Froyo Chain Scoops Up New Locations In Phoenix Metro Area
The New York-based frozen yogurt chain 16 Handles is expanding into metro Phoenix, Hoodline reported.
The company announced it is planning three new froyo shops in the area. The first opening is planned for the spring in south Chandler, followed by locations in Mesa and Scottsdale.
The Chandler shop will sit at 4040 S. Arizona Ave., Hoodline reported.
This is part of 16 Handles' recent push to open dozens of new locations across the country. In a January press release, the company said it signed 25 franchise deals across 7 states in 2025 and now boasts 32 stores in development.
The company said the growth was spurred by rising average unit volumes and lower building costs.
It's too early to tell if this signals a reawakening of the froyo craze that first took over the U.S. in the late 2000s and remained popular through the early 2010s. Chains like Red Mango and Pinkberry opened storefronts across the country seemingly overnight due to seemingly insatiable demand.
But the demand eventually was sated, with chains closing many locations shortly before the pandemic. Although the froyo market declined steadily after the frenzy slowed around 2015, it was still reportedly valued at nearly $1.9B in 2024 and is expected to reach nearly $2.5B by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights.
16 Handles, founded by Solomon Choi in the East Village in 2008, was New York City’s early addition to the national froyo obsession. The city still has several of the chain's froyo locations.
