Lots to choose from at Yoplicity in Kennewick

Decisions, decisions. There's lots to be made in Kennewick's newest frozen yogurt shop, Yoplicity.

You'll find a choice of 10 low-fat, nonfat or no sugar added flavors, plus a dairy-free sorbet.

Toppings number close to 50, ranging from fresh berries and crunchy cereals, to chunks of candy bars and hot fudge.

"It's your choice. You can be as healthy as you like or as decadent," said John Peterson of Kennewick. He owns Yoplicity Frozen Yogurt along with his wife, Tamara.

For ideas on toppings and flavors for their frozen treats the Petersons had only to consult their five children, ages 7 to 19.

"This has been truly a family project. All the kids have contributed in some way. One day we all sat down and brainstormed toppings," said Tamara Peterson. Another day they debated shop names.

A year and a half ago the Petersons had no idea they'd soon be opening a frozen yogurt shop. Then, while visiting friends in Southern California, they discovered self-serve, pay-by-the-ounce, frozen yogurt.

"We all loved the shop. We kept saying we need something like this in Kennewick. The idea just kept growing in the back of our minds," he said.

The Petersons began seriously researching opening a similar shop when John was laid off in April 2010.

"This has been our first venture into food service. My background is in transportation logistics but some things transferred over like inventory control, contracts, things like that," he said.

Tamara Peterson has been largely a stay-at-home mom, but recently worked for the Children's Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia coordinating the volunteer tutors to read in the schools.

In researching their idea, the Petersons visited frozen yogurt stores in different areas and discovered YoCream International in Portland. They said the distributor offers a premium product with flavors ranging from Angel Food Cake to Mountain Blackberry, Thin Mint Cookie to Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

"YoCream has been producing yummy frozen yogurt for 30 years. They're pros," he said.

The company also supplies a Pasco self-serve yogurt shop, MyFroYo, off Burden Boulevard that opened last summer.

Once the Petersons had a distributor, business plan and financing, they needed a storefront.

"We looked at different locations but we were keen on Kennewick. We live in Kennewick," he said. They chose the Cynergy Center complex near the 27th Street roundabout in the Southridge area.

With the self-serve model, you decide how much, or how little, a serving is.

"Moms with small kids love it because they can put just what their kids will eat in the cup. They won't end up throwing out half of it," John Peterson said.

The cost is 40 cents an ounce.

"I've seen people pay as little as $1.30 and as much as $5," said John Peterson.

They have 10 employees and seating for 35 inside and soon will have outside seating too.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. The address is 4309 W. 27th Place, Building C, Suite 101, Kennewick. Phone: 783-1106.

-- Website: www.yoplicityfrozenyogurt.com. Or look for them at www.facebook.com.

This story was originally published July 8, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Lots to choose from at Yoplicity in Kennewick ."