September 27, 2011 - 12:33pm
Pinkberry brings its icy swirl to Briarwood
BY ARIELLE SPECINER
This town — no, sorry, this nation — has some crazy obsession with bizarre-flavored frozen yogurt and custom mix-ins. Whether it’s just a fad or it’s here to stay, fro-yo is having its 15 frozen minutes of fame right here in Ann Arbor. We have Amer’s, Yogobliss and Lab, and now Pinkberry is coming to town. After its stint on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Pinkberry got a second shining debut in Ann Arbor at the Briarwood Mall when it opened yesterday.
“One of the things that really attracted us about Ann Arbor was the vibrant college community that we really feel fits our brand,” said Peter Casey, regional director of East Coast operations.
Though the location is not directly on campus, Casey thinks Briarwood Mall is a great first location in Michigan. This new Pinkberry branch offers catering, works with local ambassadors to connect with the campus and will work with different organizations within the University.
“Pinkberry is all about community, customer experience and relationships ... The draw for the Briarwood Mall is the larger community as a whole,” Casey said.
Though there are many other frozen yogurt boutiques on campus, three factors set Pinkberry apart — product, design and service. Casey explained it’s all about the experience.
He said Pinkberry puts a lot of work into its product. The balance of the tart and the sweetness of the yogurt perfect is perfect, the ingredients are the highest quality and the crisp store design is unique. What really sets it apart is the customer service. Each customer who walks through the doors of Pinkberry is guaranteed a customized experience where they can build their yogurt however they so choose.
“We take care of every customer. They get to customize the Pinkberry the way that they would like to eat it. So it’s not one size fits all, everybody can make the experience the way they’d like,” Casey said.
With a vast choice of flavors and toppings to select, it is hard to pick a favorite. Casey enjoys the new seasonal yogurt and toppings of peanut butter, strawberry jam and toasted breadcrumbs — PB&J much?
