Nothing Sweeter Than 16 Handles

As local newscasters predicted the impending arrival of Hurricane Irene late Saturday afternoon, Lisa and Erik Mallon, owners of 16 Handles, a new frozen yogurt retail store, began giving away free quarts of yogurt. "We called it the 'Hurricane Special,'" Lisa said. "We didn't know what would happen to our power, so with every purchase, we told our customers to take home a quart of frozen yogurt."

Fortunately, because the retail store, located at 1300 Post Road in downtown Fairfield, didn't lose its power, they've enjoyed a steady stream of customers for the past couple of days. Erik, who is also vice president of 16 Handles' Franchise Development, along with owning his own development rights for Fairfield County, said that their product is healthy enough to be eaten at every meal.

Using a self-serve model of operation, the store encourages customers to sample different frozen yogurts from 16 Handles' helpers, containing them -- and various toppings -- to the cup size they have selected. The cost of their creamy concoctions is calculated at 52 cents per ounce, with toppings included. For those who just would like to purchase toppings, the cost is 60 cents per ounce.

"Yogurt is now a lifestyle," Erik said. "It can be a lunch, snack, dinner and, yes, a dessert. The marketplace is ever-growing because people are more health conscious."

16 Handles offers 16 different flavors of frozen yogurt, including low-fat, no-fat, no sugar and two sorbet choices, which are non-dairy options. There are also 59 toppings, ranging from fresh strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and nuts to sweeter fare like M&Ms, jimmies, gummy bears and cookies. All toppings, with the exception of three, are kosher-certified. Lisa said that the cashier has a list that details which flavors are passable with regard to specific allergies.

"We joke that people are healthier out here in Fairfield than in New York City, where the company is based, because we've had to stop in the afternoon to prepare more cut-up fruit, as it goes so fast," Lisa said.

Painted in upbeat colors of bright pink, green and orange, the 16 Handles fro-yo dispensary welcomes frozen treat lovers of all ages. In the evening, Lisa said they "crank the music up loud" and turn on flickering, strobe-like lighting reflecting the company's theme colors. "We want to create a club-like atmosphere at which young people will want to hang out," Lisa said.

The couple, who reside in Fairfield with their four children -- Emily, 17; Alec, 15; Jake, 13, and Hannah, 10 -- said that they wanted to open their first store in town because of the community support. "People who work in the local businesses have been coming in and saying how glad they are that we are here," Erik said. "We feel very positive about this business. We think there is room for many frozen yogurt companies in Fairfield."

Their only regret is that Fairfield's zoning board denied the company's initial application for in-store seating because of parking regulations. 

"We're hopeful that the the zoning board will approve our second attempt," Lisa said. She pointed out that the "seating" used at 16 Handles consists of small tables accompanied by ottomans, which match the couch that extends from the entrance down one side of the store. "I hate to see a family of six come in and line up, side by side, on the couch," Lisa continued. "That is not at all the feel that we want here. We want some members of the group to be able to pull up an ottoman and sit, face to face, and talk and relax as they eat their yogurt."

There is free WiFi and teens are invited to stop in after school, with their laptops, for a bite to eat. "The town needs a place for kids to hang out," Lisa said. "So far, the response has been great. It's been so well received by the town."

The Mallon family is not new to the franchise business. They owned three locations of My Gym, a children's franchise based out of California, for several years. After selling their businesses, the couple worked for the My Gym corporation. Working out of home offices, Erik said that they operated "very much as a team." When they were ready to shift gears and venture into a different type of business, together they meticulously researched frozen yogurt franchise business opportunities. Erik said that they landed upon 16 Handles, which was "doing so well" in New York City. "We fell in love with the design, concept, atmosphere and almost everything about it," he said.

The Fairfield 16 Handles is open seven days a week, Sunday to Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, call  203-292-9841.