Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt now open in Citrus Heights

Sentinel staff report–
Citrus Heights is now home to a new frozen yogurt shop in the Sunrise MarketPlace, next to Nation’s Giant Burgers and PizzaRev on Sunrise Boulevard.

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt opened its doors with a soft opening to the public beginning Feb. 17, but will hold an official ribbon cutting and grand opening special on Saturday, Feb. 23. Specials will include free frozen yogurt all day, up to 16 ounces in size, according to franchisee Gurmeet Singh, who owns the new shop along with his wife.

The grand opening will kick off with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at 11 a.m., followed by opening to the general public at noon. Free t-shirts will be offered to the first 25 customers and face painting will be featured at 2 p.m., a poster on the shop’s front window and Facebook page says.

Singh said grand opening festivities will also spill over into the following day, with a raffle drawing at 12:30 p.m. on Feb 24 and a balloon artist featured at 2 p.m.

The new yogurt shop features 12 different flavors, including salted caramel, dairy-free pineapple sorbet, coconut, Nutella, cookies ‘n cream, cake batter, and New York cheesecake. There’s also a no-sugar-added strawberry flavor, and a gluten-free option. Most flavors are advertised as not containing high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavoring.

Ordering at Menchie’s is self-serve, with customers able to try out any flavor with a sample cup before buying. About 50 topping options are also available, ranging from sprinkles, to candy bar crumbles, fruit, and syrups. Pricing is charged by the ounce.

The interior of the 1,500-square-foot yogurt shop is colorful and kid-friendly, with a chalk drawing board mounted on a wall for doodling and a toddler-sized table and chairs available for seating.

The first Menchie’s opened in 2007 in a suburban community of Los Angeles by Adam and Danna Caldwell who sought to distinguish their company with a commitment to “do our best to say NO to artificial colors, NO to artificial flavors, NO to high fructose corn syrup, NO to partially hydrogenated oils, and YES to all things real,” the company’s website says.

The company expanded through franchising and now has over 500 locations, including nearby shops in Rancho Cordova, Rocklin and Roseville.

From last year:Before/After: Remember how this Citrus Heights strip mall used to look?

The new yogurt shop in Citrus Heights is the latest addition to a once-aging strip mall, which underwent extensive renovation work and a face-lift in 2017. The center, known as the AltaSunrise Retail Center at 5450 Sunrise Blvd., is owned by the Cordano Company.

The remodel work included reducing the building’s size by cutting back the front of the structure to allow room for a new outside dining plaza. An adjacent medical building’s facade was also updated to complement the aesthetic of the remodeled plaza.