Oklahoma Yogurt Businesses Heating Up

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Makeovers have been helping people look better for years, but now it's an idea that seems to be working for yogurt as well. In the past year, self-serve yogurt stores have been popping up all over town and judging by people's reactions, so far so good.

In Edmond alone seven of the now eight yogurt stores have opened up in the past year alone. One of those businesses is LushBerries near 33rd and South Broadway.

"Since people have become more health conscious, it's not going to be a fad that's going to come and go, I believe it's here to stay," said Bruce Bui, co-owner of LushBerries.

According to Bui, his store was the second in Edmond to open. He said he got the idea after a visit to California where yogurt stores can be found on nearly every corner.

"It hit the west coast first and then east coast. It's slowly got into the south," Bui said.

In fact, Bui said the south was last region to catch on to the newest and "coolest" business trend.

Bui said while he knew there would be stores, he just never thought it would be as many as their have been.

"It's actually worse than Starbucks. We were the second to come into Edmond, and there was a third after that and we thought that was going to be it," Bui said.

To stand out from the competition Bui along with his co-owner and aunt, Nicole Lu-Quan, have expanded their business to include selling crepes as well. In addition, they said the added competition isn't something they shy away from but it's something they try to use it to their advantage.

"In a way it's a challenge for us, but an opportunity too because we do the best of our ability," Lu-Quan said.

And judging by customers reactions there hard work is paying off. John Williams who brought his kids in to the store said they can't get enough of it.

"They love the self-serve and the toppings. They love the toppings, that's their biggest thing," Williams said.

In fact, Bui and La-Quan said they challenge their customers to try out the competition and see or taste for themselves.

"In Edmond and Oklahoma City we do believe we have the best frozen yogurt. We do believe we put the most effort into it, the most love into it, so we know we have the best product," Bui said.