LINCOLN PARK — Froyo superfans should set their alarms extra early Oct. 12 for a chance to be one of 100 people to win free frozen treats for a year.
The two newest locations of Forever Yogurt, both in Lincoln Park, will celebrate their grand opening Oct. 12 by each giving out 50 "black cards," good for a $5 weekly credit for a year.
The second 50 people in line at each location will receive free froyo that day.
"At our last grand opening in Woodfield Mall, people had lined up at 4 a.m. just to be first in line," said Ahmad Yilmaz, creative director for Forever Yogurt.
If the Lincoln Park shops see similar interest, it could be a long wait, as the stores won't open until 3 p.m. Saturday.
The two locations, which have been operating for a few weeks after a soft opening, are located at 2727 N. Clark St. and 818 W. Fullerton Ave.
The Clark Street location is Forever Yogurt's "XL" location, and its 10 self-serve machines with a total of 20 flavors are the most for any store in Chicago, according to Yilmaz.
The Fullerton shop has been "all the rage," in the neighborhood, according to Enrique Estrada, team leader at the store.
While $5 is more than enough to buy a cup of froyo, some customers, possibly after a few drinks, have spent significantly more on a serving when multiple toppings, sprinkles and other treats were added, he said.
"We've had some people come in and spend 20 bucks [for one cup], but that's rare," Estrada said. "Usually when they're loaded."
The business, just steps from DePaul University's campus, is open until midnight seven days a week.
For customers not lucky enough to snag an early black card during the grand opening, each store will be raffling off five throughout the day.
The first location to host the free froyo for a year giveaway was in Boystown in 2012.
"Ever since then it's been such a hit with the neighborhoods that we kept it going," Yilmaz said.
The young franchise was started in Wicker Park in June 2010 and has since grown to include nine Chicago locations and numerous others across the country.
"We had really good timing as far as getting a good cult following here," Yilmaz said. "We've seen a lot of mom and pop shops and even the bigger brands coming into Chicago."
Yilmaz said Lincoln Park has always been on the company's radar, but it was a matter of finding the key locations.
Although they are close to each other, one aims to serve DePaul University students while the other is geared toward the eastern portion of the neighborhood.
Estrada said the customers at the Fullerton shop are following an interesting pattern, early in the day he sees the neighborhood families, at around 2:30 p.m., the Lincoln Park High School crowd, a few workers getting off at the Fullerton "L" stop around 5 p.m. and the DePaul crowd late at night.
