Loyola Student Dispatch

By Kara Leslie

Loyola University Chicago has jumped on board to the frozen yogurt craze taking the nation by storm, and recently added Red Mango to the other successful businesses operating in The Morgan at Loyola Station.

Red Mango opened last week and, like many other frozen yogurt establishments, gives patrons the option of choosing a yogurt flavor, among them dark chocolate, Madagascar vanilla, pomegranate, and original, and adding various toppings. Toppings available at Red Mango include a variety of fresh fruit, along with granola, cereal, nuts, and Ghirardelli dark chocolate, among others.

Red Mango first opened in Los Angeles by a Berkeley graduate, adding to the other numerous yogurt franchises originating in California. The Loyola Red Mango has seen steady business since its opening last week, and has provided employment opportunities for many Loyola students.

Kathryn Younkie, sophomore international studies major, is among these employees, and enjoys the atmosphere that Red Mango provides for students.

“There’s free wi-fi, cheap yogurt, and a chill environment for people to come and hang out,” Younkie said. Pun intended? You better believe it.

In addition to yogurt, Red Mango also offers smoothies, teas, parfaits, and various flavors of “Chillers.”

“The management really provides a great work environment for students,” Younkie said, also claiming that the entire staff is made up of Loyola students, save for a few individuals from DePaul University.

Frozen yogurt will also be hitting the Loyola Water Tower Campus soon with the opening of Forever Yogurt below the Starbuck’s on Chicago Avenue. Forever Yogurt currently has a location on North Avenue in Wicker Park, and has seen great success. The concept with this yogurt store is a bit different than Red Mango.

Red Mango will have up to six flavors of yogurt on a given day, which, in addition to toppings, are chosen by the customer and created by Red Mango staff. Frozen Yogurt has a build-your-own concept, including 20+ flavors, toppings, and a scale to weigh out your ingredients.

Forever Yogurt is also hitting Lakeview soon, installing a location right off the Belmont Red Line stop. This will add to Yogen Fruz, another yogurt business down the street. Some customers are not thrilled about this.

“It’s ridiculous that there will soon be two yogurt establishments in the same block,” senior Loyola student Cheryl Manley said. “It’s just too much.”

Despite some hesitation to the yogurt trend, it seems to be prospering in the Chicago area and within the Loyola community.