Arlington’s frozen yogurt wars are heating up.
Pinkberry, arguably the originator of the upscale froyo craze in the United States, is planning on opening a location in Clarendon. According to the company’s web site, the store will be located at 1220 N. Fillmore Street.
The only open storefront in the 1220 N. Fillmore Street building is the one facing Clarendon Boulevard with the “for lease” tacked on large sheets of plywood. The storefront (pictured) is between Restaurant 3 and the future Cava Restaurant to the right, and the entrance to an apartment building, Urban Halo salon and Gold’s Gym to the left.
Pinkberry has a “cult-like” following in other parts of the country, but it will face tough competition in Clarendon. A Red Mango froyo store is only one block away and has enjoyed considerable success since it opened nearly one year ago. Rabbit, a hybrid salad/frozen yogurt/cupcake concept, is slated to open one block up Clarendon Boulevard, in the Clarendon Center development. Meanwhile, Sweetgreen — another froyo/salad restaurant — recently opened in Ballston.
We’re awaiting word from Los Angeles-based Pinkberry as to when they hope to open. Although a construction crew was busy working on the interior of Cava next door, the sound of nails being hammered into wood could seemingly be heard in the potential Pinkberry storefront earlier this afternoon.
Pinkberry is planning to open a location in Dupont Circle in the District within the next three weeks.
Related Posts
- Reminder: Free Froyo at Pinkberry Tonight August 4, 2011
- Pinkberry Plans Froyo Giveaway in Clarendon August 1, 2011
- Pinkberry Sets Opening Date for Clarendon Location July 18, 2011
- Permits Up for Pinkberry in Clarendon June 21, 2011
Sweetgreen is terrible, I don’t know how that place will survive. It’s overpriced and isn’t very good.
For a salad place, not having diet soda blows my mind…
In my best Beavis voice…. he he, he said pinkberry.
Dillweed
he he. He said weed.
Happy 4/20 day
Pinkberry will blow Sweetgreen and Red Mango away. Those two survive cause they’re the only options around. Pinkberry has twice as many toppings as either of those places and it’s fresh too. Can’t wait for it to open.
Pinkberry = amazingly delicious… makes me miss CA
Pinkberry is much better and will kill all the competition. I have had Red Mango in other cities and loved it, but the franchise here just sucks! They don’t know how to swirl the yogurt or apply toppings!
All these places not only have terrible service but they cost too much. $9 for 2 small fro-yo’s with 1 topping each is worse than paying $7.50 for a pint at Rustico.
Sorry, I’ve had no problems with the Red Mango here… I love that place.
Please don’t tell me I live in a town that’s having an upscale froyo war.
To be fair, it is only a cold war.
Ha!
So, is it the zoning board, corporate America or Arlington’s yuppies that lack imagination? I used to blame the county, but maybe it’s just a supply and demand issue — the young consumers in Arlington truly desire froyo, burgers, cupcakes and upscale American quasi-bars above all else.
Why would you blame the zoning board or the county? It’s not like they zoned it for high density cupcakes or burgers. Blame the free market if you want, but judging from the crowds at the burger places, it looks like the demand curve has really shifted to the right lately.
Well the county has some control over what can go where. If it determined that the market were oversaturated with condominiums, for example, it could do something about it. Same for if the county thought that 20 burger places were enough. I guess that’s what I was getting at (or wondering about, rather). I was speculating that maybe the board just wasn’t scrutinizing its zoning or permitting decisions enough. But the more I think about it, I agree with you — it seems that the market is by far the biggest factor.
This building’s retail has been vacant since it was built over 5 years ago. Why ? It’s a very desireable location it would seem. By contrast, the Zoso buildings leased up right away.
Some soccer mom from Lyon Village was harping on here about how she wanted a SweetGreen closer to her house, does this count?
No, it’s the zoning board’s fault – that area is zoned FY-4, for frozen yogurt shops only.
ha. nice.
I’m pretty sure I could live off froyo. No lie.
This is getting rigotdamndiculous. Who the hell gets frozen yogurt on a regular basis…or at all?? These businesses won’t last. Would prefer a local homemade gourmet ice cream shop (Goody’s doesn’t do it for me).
Judging by the lines at Red Mango, a lot of people get frozen yogurt on a regular basis – myself included.
Tre- You would also need to spend about 3X more time at the gym if you were getting as much “local homemade gourmet ice cream” as it would take to keep that kind of place in business.
Fro-yo does so well b/c its does give chicks thunder thighs as quickly as full fat ice cream.
****Fro-yo does so well b/c its doesnt** give chicks thunder thighs as quickly as full fat ice cream.
Good point… but I still consider fro-yo a fad. Only time will tell. And funny you mention it, I just started going to the gym again last night.
Frozen Yogurt was a fad in the 90′s. I am assuming it will be a fad again.
“will be”??? Amazing predictive power there, bud. I hope you aren’t my stock broker.
Boccato Gelato across Wilson from Whole Foods fits the local/homemade/gourmet bill.
Ice cream > Fro Yo > Gelato
That place is great too. Always a tough choice for me between Red Mango and Boccato Gelato.
Larry’s Homemade Ice Cream is coming to Clarendon Center, I believe.
Please, make it stop!
Anyone know what’s coming between JOS A Bank and REI in the Market Common mall?
I believe Ann Taylor is moving into that space.
Last time I checked it was an EMS not an REI in Market Commons.
Another Ann Taylor… why? I really do not see young 20 year olds rock Ann Taylor.
I hate Red Mango. Prefer Sweetgreen if I have to choose. Look forward to some competition, and right next door!
Can Clarendon really support three Fro-Yo places? What we really need is just a decent regular old-fashioned ice cream shop. I was never a big fan of Lazy Sundae, but something like that, ya know…
Clarendon can’t support ice cream either. Ben & Jerrys moved out 3 years ago.
In all fairness, that B&J was in a horrible location.
The staff at that B&J were consistently terrible. I gave up and started buying at Whole Foods and eating at home.
Their serving sizes were measured in teaspoons
Johnny Utah – Larry’s home made ice cream is coming.
Scott – So what is taking the place of Ann Taylor loft on the other side near the soap shop?
Ann Taylor Loft is different from regular Ann Taylor. I believe they both will be there. A bit weird, but both cater to different markets, I am told.
“I just ran out and got 3 Pinkberrys”
I never hear of the place before this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gspaoaecNAg
“Totes the best hun cal foyo.”
From my Korean brothers in Annandale, “The Pinkberry Soju Fizz”
Ingredients:
• Soju
• Chambord
• Thin Vanilla Yogurt
• Lemon/Lime Soda of your choice
Preparation:
1. Using a heavy splash of Chambord, 1 part soju, 1 part thin vanilla yogurt, pour ingredients into stainless steel shaker full of ice to chill.
2. Pour into an appropriately huge glass
2. Add lemon lime soda to taste and enjoy.
It’s mostly for the ladies.
Dang … you are just full of recipes today!
How does a Pinkberry Soju Fizz go with venison jerky?
(and I have no idea what the heck Soju is … clearly not yuppie enough to be buying froyo!)
It goes brilliantly with Venison Jerky. And there is nothing yuppie about Soju. National drink of alcoholic Koreans and their south Arlington friends, Soju makes you sing karaoke at all hours regardless of whether or not there is any music, makes you say some of the dimmest things to your smartest friends and generally makes the act of existence the next morning simply unacceptable. Consumed in reasonable quantities with unreasonable quantities of bulgogi (korean bbq), it makes for a pleasant evening. Consumed in unreasonable quantities with criminal amounts of bulgogi, it makes for legends.
I’m into making people fat, drunk and happy. Way better than a tax argument.
WOOF! WOOF!
I would patronize a Frozen Yogurt Parlor if they mixed it with some kind of alcohol. Something like TGI Friday’s Orange Dreamsicle would be great!!!
A Dunkin/Baskins store would be 10x better.
OMG…YES!!!
Is this the “natural” type — with the tart taste, or the sweet frozen yogurt which tastes like soft-serve ice cream.
Curious on this as well…
I actually frequented the TCBY in Ballston every once in a while. The owner told me it wasn’t the lack of business that prompted him to close, but rather the tax burden.
Pinkberry is tart – even the flavors are pretty tart.
Where is the Larry’s going to be?
I think the downfall of Ben and Jerry’s was its crappy location on the 2nd floor of Clarendon Common. Lazy Sundae seemed to do quite well.
Re: Ann Taylor
The Ann Taylor Loft is staying where it is AND the are adding a regular Ann Taylor. Yes, seems strange, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, the only businesses that can afford those ground level spaces are national chains.
really, only national chains can afford ground level locations?
maybe one of the most ignorant statements I have ever read on this board.
You must also think that everyone that lives in Clarendon lives off their credit card.
No, not ignorant. I said THOSE 1st floor spaces (in Clarendon Common). I don’t know too many independents that can afford upwards of $70+ sq ft for those spots, and it is unlikely the landlord of that particular development would take a small local anyway. As for the credit cards, I own a small retail shop in Arlington, and yes, most people use plastic. I was just commenting the other day how it seems like nobody carries cash anymore.
We can all take solace in knowing that two-thirds of these froyo’s will be out of business in a year or two due to overpopulation and something else will come along to replace them.
I’m uninterested in Froyo. I want a 24 hour something…
I could do with a 24×7 Krispy Kreme donut factory and storefront. Fried on site all day, everyday.
Noooooo… I want serious food. Maybe 24 hour Chinese food… or Mexican.
The IHOP in Ballston doesn’t do it for you??
IHOP is too jovial, KalashniKEV wants serious food.
IHOP??!? Rooty two-ty Fresh and Fruity? Moons over My-Hammy???? GET SERIOUS!!!! Waffle House would be a solid choice.
Hey, lay off my Rooty Tooty.
Waffle House!
Mario’s?? (it’s usually my last resort hunger-fighter when I’ve realized its past 11 and I haven’t eaten dinner yet)
Dairy Queen, DQ, please come to our wealthy neighborhood and make a fortune. Lines will form on hot summer nights for either vanilla or chocolate, or a twist. Children will have wonderful memories and it will be a hell of a lot cheaper! And, I want my yogurt in a cone, got it! No cones at “Red Mango” just attitude and that horrible tasting chocolate stuff.
there is that Carvel place by Marios – similar to an old school DQ
Earl’s Sandwich Shop has soft-serve.
The Dark Lord craves FroYo….and Harry Potter’s soul!!!!
Cupcakes, burgers, pizza, and frozen yogurt.
The next big thing along the Ballston-Rosslyn strip will be Jenny Craig/Weight Watchers franchises.
I tried it in CA. Not a fan.
there should be a Ritas!!!
what we need is a German style beer garden – put it in Courthouse Plaza.
Ever had real gelato? The Gelato place you speak of in Clarendon serves freezer-burnt gelato “wanna-be”. It represents all things NOT gelato.
I know exactly what you’re talking about and I actually prefer the “ice-creamy” qualities of Boccato Gelato to the… stickier(?) texture of gelato. It’s def not freezer burnt though.
Their tea is much better.
That stuff is made fresh there daily… have no idea what you’re talking about freezer burnt. Maybe you own a competitor.
Or he had one bad experience and now judges the entire operation based on that single time?
Can I just ask an open-ended question?
What percentage of the people who carry on about the proliferation of pizza, burger, frozen yogurt, and cupcake places are the same people who spend a sizable portion of their time extolling the virtues of the free market and the American small business? I’m not going to name any political parties or paint with too broad a brush, but…
(I should add that by “carry on”, I meant “complain about / lament”)
There is a GREAT little homemade ice cream shop in Westover, off Washington Blvd, called Toby’s. My kids and I go there pretty much every weekend, and a lot of the time its PACKED. I’m not a big froyo fan myself… if I want a treat, I get the good stuff!!!
Pinkberry is great news, but Clarendon still needs a small coffee/tea “bar” with a minimalist design like Filter in Dupont Circle. Hot Shotz redux, but more cutting edge–a place for the intelligentsia.
I like that idea. Apparently though, those places have a difficult time getting the self-proclaimed intelligentsia to actually pay for stuff, instead of nursing an americano for hours on end while ranting on internet message boards about Republicans and capitalists. Ah, Common Grounds/Murky Coffee, we hardly knew ye.
Give Iota a try.
My biggest complaint about Red Mango is this. Have you ever noticed this? Order a yogurt with one topping and they will put the topping all around the yogurt. Then, the next time you go, ask for a yogurt with two toppings. Hey, watch what they do because it’s a big surprise. They put the first topping halfway around the yogurt and the second topping around the other half of the yogurt. And yes, they charge you more. Has anyone noticed this? Can you believe this. Lesson. After I saw them do this, whenever I want two toppings, I do the following. I order a yogurt with one topping. Then right after they put the topping all around the yogurt, I then say the following. “you know, i think I’ve changed my mind. I’d like two toppings. then and only then will the put the second topping around the entire yogurt. try it, it’s funny and a disturbing business practice.
You are a miser in the truest sense, and I love it. Great observation.
I thought the salad/frozen yogurt/cupcake store was a joke when I first heard it…
There goes the neighborhood
Clarendon’s nice and all, but it’s become a little too frau-ish for my tastes. Maybe I need to (reluctantly) make the move into the District since I’m allergic to the status quo.
Can someone please open an art gallery in Clarendon? Can someone please open a clothing boutique where the owner is the designer? Is there any chance of a novel gift shop or something like that? Do we need three frozen yogurt places, and of course a smoothie place also is coming to the new Lyon Place apartment building ground floor soon as well. Stores other than just food and drink would be nice.
I have no problem with the humorous miser comment because I’m actually anything but. And I really don’t think this practice falls into the category of being miserly. And I can guarantee you that most people don’t even notice what’s happening. But if you were to ask most people, I would be willing to bet Red Mango to Pinkberry that most would think the same; it’s a deceptive business practice. Think about it for a second. Where else would you be asked to pay for an upgrade and receive less than what you paid for? They are advertising 2 toppings. They are not advertising 1/2 of two toppings for more. I would appreciate comments from people on this.
[...] Cold War is heating up with the impending opening (August 5) of Pinkberry’s N. Filmore location. Pinkberry (of the inanely annoying jingle) will [...]