Fro-yo in Little Italy: Berrylicious to open in a month
Kate Lee
Issue date: 9/14/09 Section: Features
Being a stone's throw away from the university campus, Little Italy is home to many services and restaurants that are appealing to students and fit their budget. Students go to Thai Bowl for a relatively inexpensive and filling serving of noodles. They go to Hawkeye's, Bar Louie, or Drum and Monkey to drink. But Taylor Street has been lacking a shop that is strictly dessert.
That is where Van Lam comes in. Lam owns D'Bellagio Spa and Salon (1044 W. Taylor) and has recently decided to set up a frozen yogurt shop right in Little Italy: Berrylicious. "I got the idea for Berrylicious from my many visits to California. It's very healthy and tastes great." With a sprinkling of fro-yo locations downtown and in the North side, it does leave some wondering why there isn't one close to a university. Berrylicious is going to be located on 1437 W. Taylor Street (across from Starbucks).
"I chose Taylor Street because I love the neighborhood and the people in the community," said Lam. College students and the surrounding Little Italy neighborhood will of course be the primary target customers. How will Berrylicious compare to the other frozen yogurt shops many people have tried before?
Lam's frozen yogurt will be made by the same company that makes Red Mango. "I don't foresee any issues regarding my similarity to that of Red Mango or Pinkberry. It's similar to comparing a McDonald's hamburger to Burger King's. It's still a hamburger but yet it's different." Berrylicious is Lam's second business venture.
Managing businesses, as difficult as it could be, is made even more difficult in the current economy. Taylor Street has experienced its share of restaurant closures and downsizing. Lam will manage both the salon and Berrylicious full-time. "The one thing that sets my businesses apart from the other businesses on Taylor Street is that I own and operate my businesses personally. I work over 80 hours per week." Maintaining customer relations has been on Van's business agenda and is evident in his regulars at the salon.
"There are many of businesses more profitable but bringing what people want into the neighborhood is more satisfying." In the end, customer satisfaction is top priority. "My goal is to exceed my customers' expectations and to bring something new into the neighborhood." Berrylicious is set to open in a month. For upcoming promotions and to get a free medium yogurt on opening week, sign up on the website, http://myberrylicious.com/.
That is where Van Lam comes in. Lam owns D'Bellagio Spa and Salon (1044 W. Taylor) and has recently decided to set up a frozen yogurt shop right in Little Italy: Berrylicious. "I got the idea for Berrylicious from my many visits to California. It's very healthy and tastes great." With a sprinkling of fro-yo locations downtown and in the North side, it does leave some wondering why there isn't one close to a university. Berrylicious is going to be located on 1437 W. Taylor Street (across from Starbucks).
"I chose Taylor Street because I love the neighborhood and the people in the community," said Lam. College students and the surrounding Little Italy neighborhood will of course be the primary target customers. How will Berrylicious compare to the other frozen yogurt shops many people have tried before?
Lam's frozen yogurt will be made by the same company that makes Red Mango. "I don't foresee any issues regarding my similarity to that of Red Mango or Pinkberry. It's similar to comparing a McDonald's hamburger to Burger King's. It's still a hamburger but yet it's different." Berrylicious is Lam's second business venture.
Managing businesses, as difficult as it could be, is made even more difficult in the current economy. Taylor Street has experienced its share of restaurant closures and downsizing. Lam will manage both the salon and Berrylicious full-time. "The one thing that sets my businesses apart from the other businesses on Taylor Street is that I own and operate my businesses personally. I work over 80 hours per week." Maintaining customer relations has been on Van's business agenda and is evident in his regulars at the salon.
"There are many of businesses more profitable but bringing what people want into the neighborhood is more satisfying." In the end, customer satisfaction is top priority. "My goal is to exceed my customers' expectations and to bring something new into the neighborhood." Berrylicious is set to open in a month. For upcoming promotions and to get a free medium yogurt on opening week, sign up on the website, http://myberrylicious.com/.
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