Yogo Factory Continues Expansion with Grand Opening Weekend in Ocean City

What do Galloway Township, Ocean City, Saudi Arabia and India have in common?

Yogo Factory, of course.

Brian Petruzzi opened his first Yogo Factory in Galloway Township last July with a staff of 10 people, and even he is surprised at how fast it’s grown.

The Ocean City store’s grand opening this weekend brings to 37 the number of stores currently open or being built. That’s a rough estimate, actually, as Petruzzi estimates a new store is approved every 3-5 days, and a new store is opening every 10 days for the next 16 weeks.

“People really liked our first store (in Galloway),” Petruzzi said. “Our second store got the same reaction. In the beginning of the spring, things began to move at light speed, so I’m a little surprised right now.”

Yogo Factory’s popularity lies in its individuality. It isn’t the same as other ice cream and yogurt shops in as much as there’s more room to sit down, and it provides plenty of healthy options.

“It’s the experience of a high end frozen yogurt shop,” Petruzzi said. “It’s a place to enjoy yourself, and particularly on the boardwalk, it’s tough to get ice cream and go find a bench on the boardwalk.”

Petruzzi adds that the yogurt is made on premises daily, and customers have the option to put all fruit toppings on their sundaes.

“The yogurt’s fresh,” Petruzzi said. “We use the best frozen yogurts.”

They also have ice cream and sorbet, but 99 percent of the options are fat free, and all yogurt, ice cream and sorbet is sugar free.

“Kids get what they like and you get what you like without feeling guilty,” Petruzzi said. “We see some people a couple of times a week because they don’t have to feel guilty, and then maybe on Friday, they can get hot fudge or something like that.”

Yogo Factory has a number of non-fruit topping options, including Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Twix, strawberry shortcake, strawberry cheesecake, New York cheesecake, thin mint cookies and a wide array of tarts, among others.

The Ocean City store marks the ninth store opening in New Jersey in less than a year. In addition to Galloway, other locations include Egg Harbor Township, Haddon Township, Rio Grande, Somerdale and Somers Point. Yogo Factory is set to open in Sicklerville Memorial Day weekend, and Petruzzi has plans to expand into Hammonton, Toms River, and Cherry Hill, among others.

“We have eight in Pennsylvania, three in Florida, two in California, and four in Virginia,” Petruzzi said. “ … We’re working on deals for Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Kuwait and for 10 stores in India.”

Each Yogo Factory is different, and the Ocean City Yogo Factory has a wave bar with stools for customers to sit and enjoy their food while they watch a game on the establishment’s big screen TV. It seats about 70 people, and it’s 1,600 square feet in size, Petruzzi said.

Yogurt is 49 cents an ounce, and that price is discounted when customers come in wearing Phillies gear. They get two ounces for free.

For its grand opening weekend, Yogo Factory is offering a free tee-shirt with purchase.

Yogo Factory offers free WiFi, and there are iPad2s lining the counters.

It is located at 838 Boardwalk, and opens at noon Friday, Saturday and Sunday through May 21. From May 21 on, it will be open seven days a week, 10:30 a.m.-midnight.

For more information on Yogo Factory, visit yogofactory.com.