At 16 Handles - 16 Different Flavors Of Yogurt Available At One Time (VIDEO)

16 Handles started with a soft opening last week in preparation for Saturday’s Grand Opening to introduce New City residents and others to its all-natural frozen yogurt selections.  The neon colored pink, green and orange store cannot be missed in the Clarkstown Plaza. It offers a total of 52 choices of self-serve frozen yogurt, 16 at one time that include non-fat, low fat, no sugar, sorbet and seasonal flavors along with a selection of more than 50 toppings. 

Ed Roth, co-owner of 16 Handles with longtime friend Lenny Spiegel, said the store is the 16^th to open in the chain, which has other locations in New York City, upstate New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida and Maryland. 

Roth said Saturday’s noon opening will include a ribbon cutting with local officials. The ceremony will be followed by face painting, a balloon maker, DJ inside and a visit from the WPLJ van in the evening and all day special pricing of 16 cents per ounce.

16 Handles Corporate Operations Specialist Alexa Petronaci explained the store’s colors help to guide customers to their favorite types of frozen yogurt.  The changing color-coded screens display one flavor and its nutritional value and ingredients. The non-fat choices have pink screens. 

“Orange screens, they’re the premium low fat or the seasonal,” she said.  “The green screens, they are the no-sugar added or the sorbet.” 

Petronaci said there is always at least one sorbet and one no-sugar added choice among the 16 flavors, all of which are Kosher.  She shared some examples.  The orange screened “Coconut Castaway” is premium low fat and the “American Apple Pie” is seasonal.  The February flavor is “Chocolate Love Affair” which has an appropriate pink screen while “Kiwi Strawberry” is listed on a green screen.  

She noted certain flavors are staples and available all the time such as “Vanilla Sky,” “Dulce De Leche” and “Cookies & Creme.”  Petronaci said the “indulgent” toppings include carob chips, rainbow cookies and dark raspberry truffles in addition to frozen and fresh fruit, cereal and nut toppings plus different flavored syrups, which are all Kosher.

 Roth said he was not looking for a franchise but when his children took him to one of 16 Handles’ New York City locations, he liked the concept. Then the next step was to find a partner.  He and Spiegel have been friends for years and grew up together in New City and are still local residents.

“We both have extensive experience in customer service,” said Roth. “Lenny has owned his place for 20 years, serving customers and he’s very successful.”

Spiegel owns Duke of Oil and Tune and Roth owns a Merry Maids franchise. 

They have hired 20 new employees for 16 Handles, most work part-time. Location was critical and Roth is thrilled with their storefront’s visibility from South Main Street and proximity to a movie theater and restaurants

“We think this was a fantastic location for us for a number of reasons,” he explained.  “The parking is fantastic. This is suburbia. People like to park, get out, walk a few feet and be there.” 

Roth said the regular per ounce price will be set at between 45 cents and 50 cents.  There are three cup sizes and a waffle cone cup.

Everything in the stores is biodegradable and recyclable. The three large screened TVs will show the menu, programming and information about 16 Handles.

A Yogurt Lounge in the back of the shop is available to groups and organizations. Between 20 and 30 people can sit upfront either on high stools by the window or on banquets. Frozen yogurt cakes are available for takeout and assorted beverages are sold.

16 Handles is located at 170 South Main Street and is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.  The phone number is 845-634-1616.