Forever Yogurt Opening Soon in La Grange

Just a few doors down from the popular Red Mango frozen yogurt restaurant in La Grange, the Forever Yogurt chain will open this summer. Orange Leaf yogurt is also planned for a vacant unit of the old Borders building. Consider the war on.

"Frozen yogurt is big right now. There's a frozen yogurt war," community development director Pat Benjamin said in a previous interview.

But Forever Yogurt, a growing chain that began in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, is next up, and the co-founders promise a more relaxed atmosphere and wider variety than competitors.  

“We try and really create a brand and an ambiance where people enjoy coming,” co-founder Mandy Calara said.

The store will be at 71 S. La Grange Rd. and should open in the second half of July, Calara said. That ambiance he mentioned is something Forever Yogurt takes seriously, as no two stores have the same design and each features a local mural. La Grange’s mural will include landmarks such as historical homes, Lyons Township, Village Hall and the State Bank clock.

“The standard yogurt shop tends to have that really clean, sterile look,” said Ahmad Yilmaz, co-founder and creative director. “We’re trying to shift away from that. It can be warm and inviting. Our design embraces that.”

Forever Yogurt opened in June 2010 and began franchising two years later. It has plans of opening 15 more units and has signed 32 new deals in the first quarter of this year, as well as an international deal. Calara said La Grange fits the brand well because of the downtown area that draws people to town.

Yilmaz said the La Grange location will also be about twice the size of the standard Forever Yogurt, seating 40 and offering 10 yogurt machines (most locations have eight). They offer about 80 flavors, including Maple Bacon Donut, Red Velvet Cake and Root Beer Float.

The store will celebrate its opening with a 50/50 promotion, during which the first 50 people get free frozen yogurt for a year, and the next 50 get one free cup of frozen yogurt that day. So stay tuned to Patch to find out when Forever Yogurt will be opening.

LEARN MORE: Check out Forever Yogurt’s website.