Yogurt Jungle’s business melts after Teakwoods closes

Business had thrived at Yogurt Jungle for its first seven months serving Maricopa customers. But when Teakwoods Tavern & Grill closed in late September, customer traffic turned from sweet to sour.

Owner Sharilynn Hewitt said since the popular restaurant and bar closed almost a month ago, business at her self-serve frozen yogurt establishment has dropped by about half.

Yogurt Jungle is located in the Maricopa Marketplace across from the former Teakwoods.

“It feels like a ghost town on this side of parking lot,” Hewitt said. “They brought in a lot of customers who would see us here.”

She estimated that Teakwoods was the destination for about half the customers who drove into the shopping center, and many would come to Yogurt Jungle for dessert after dining there.

The rest of her business said, Hewitt said, came from customers whose primary destination was Yogurt Jungle.

Hewitt said the only costs she has any control over are food and labor. Because of the decline of business, she is doing all the morning prep herself but does have help later in the day when it gets busier.

Hewitt and her husband and partner, Alex Casillas, opened Yogurt Jungle in March after the success of their first store in Queen Creek. She said business has dropped at the Queen Creek store, but nothing like the decrease in Maricopa in recent weeks.

To boost business at both stores, Hewitt said they are offering several promotions. There are 10-percent discounts for senior citizens, police officers, firefighters, military personnel and public school teachers.

Students in grades three through eight who bring home a report card with straight A’s get a free 12-ounce yogurt. There are also drawings for a free 12-ounce yogurt.

But there may be some good news on the horizon.

There has been a lot of interest in the space formerly occupied by Teakwoods, according to the landlord, the Phoenix-based Barclay Group.

 “There has been quite a lot of activity and we are getting close to opening a sports bar,” said Bob Austin, the company’s senior vice president of operations. Austin said it was too early to provide more details.

Teakwoods was locked out by Barclay after the owners failed to pay rent for five months. Austin said the restaurant, which opened in 2008, had been doing $1.5 million in sales annually.

Yogurt Jungle
(520) 423-9597
21101 N. John Wayne Parkway
www.yogurtjungle.com