Business Spotlights

Business Profile: Yogolicious, Pleasantville

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Yogolicious
Enzo and Jennifer Paternostro, owners of Yogolicious.

Swirl it, top it, weigh it, pay it.

That’s what customers are doing as they create their own delights at the new Yogolicious frozen yogurt store in Pleasantville, a self-serve business that is unique to the village but appears to be a growing trend throughout the nation.

Owned by Enzo and Jennifer Paternostro, longtime Pleasantville residents, the store opened in April and is quickly gaining a loyal customer base, many of them local kids and their families.

Enzo Paternostro, who manages properties for an international real estate firm in Manhattan, said he and his wife entertained the idea of opening their own business when they first married. That dream has finally become reality after finding a space on Marble Avenue, the site of a former garage.

The couple’s two oldest children, Steve, 16, and Sandra, 15, work part-time at Yogolicious. In addition to learning about the business, Steve and Sandra also enjoy seeing their friends at the store.

Yogolicious, located across from Parkway Field, is the perfect place for families to grab a quick dessert after games. It’s also within walking distance of downtown and conveniently a couple of blocks away from the Paternostros’ home, making it easy for the husband-and-wife team to switch shifts.

A stay-at-home mom for the past seven years, Jennifer Paternostro has taken over the store’s day-to-day operation, ensuring that the equipment is cleaned daily, that fresh fruit is acquired from local farms and markets, and that enough dry toppings and sauces and other supplies are on hand.

“We had no idea what to expect when we first opened, but the response has been amazing,” she said, adding that lots of family and friends have helped out along the way. “We’ve also got a lot of support from the community, and that’s really been key,” Enzo Paternostro added.

The idea of allowing customers to make their own frozen yogurt creations attracted the Paternostros from the start.

“This is something unusual around here,” Enzo Paternostro said, “and because our customers get to create something new every time they walk into our store, that appealed to us.”

They currently offer 15 different flavors of low-fat, sugar-free frozen yogurt, including red velvet. Other flavors have names such as Oreo Cupcake Swirl, California Tart, Very Berry Tart Swirl, Pleasantville Peanut Butter and Island Coconut. Customers can also choose from over 60 dry and fresh fruit toppings.

Two new toppings are added each week, based primarily on customer recommendations. All of the frozen yogurt desserts are 49 cents an ounce. The store includes a fully stocked candy bar and a selection of beverages.

The Paternostros have also established a customer loyalty program that awards a free frozen yogurt to customers who purchase 10 desserts.

Eager to attract more than drop-in customers, the Paternostros are in the process of expanding their store, providing additional seating and opening it up to birthday parties. To keep the little ones occupied while mom and dad enjoy a refreshing dessert, the couple intends to set up six or seven iPads on nearby counters, all preloaded with child-friendly computer games. The menu at Yogolicious is being extended to include regular ice cream, Italian ice cream, coffee, pastries and more.

Even at this early stage in their business, the Paternostros feel the need to give back to the community. Since opening, they’ve donated to a couple of local sports teams and will contribute to other local groups as their business grows.

Yogolicious is located at 59 Marble Ave. It is open seven days a week; Sunday through Thursday hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.goyogolicious.com.

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