Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Saturday, July 4, 2009
Today
Hi: 70
Lo: 57
Sun
Hi: 80
Lo: 61
Mon
Hi: 78
Lo: 60
Section Sponsor
Article Tools
Print this Article
Make text larger
In Dining Blogs
The Berry Chill buzz
Now only in Chicago. But, is Milwaukee next?
By Jeff Sherman RSS Feed
OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer

E-mail author | Author bio
More articles by Jeff Sherman

What is a blog?  For us it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Published Aug. 21, 2008 at 7:24 a.m.
Tags: berry chill, yogurt, tcby, pink berry, development, mikey farah

The upscale yogurt stop, Berry Chill, might be looking to open a Milwaukee-area location of its self-coined "yogurt couture" stores.

And since the greater Downtown area, at least in my humble opinion, has rather slim pickings when it comes to yogurt and ice cream; I think it would be a great fit. Plus, I've heard really good things about Berry Chill's Chicago location. The store has some good buzz, so I thought I'd check it out and drop them a line.

I suggest that you also e-mail the company and ask them to come to Milwaukee. Why not? Can't hurt. I did it, although I'm weird this way, I guess. If I see or hear about a cool store or concept, I just call or write the company and tell them to come to Milwaukee.

In this case, guess what? The CEO called me. And, even though he wouldn't spill the beans on his company's exact expansion plans, he did talk to me for a while about Berry Chill's concept and its unique product.

In March, Berry Chill opened its first Chicago-area location on State State, one block from the Magnificent Mile. The funky design of this all-natural yogurt bar includes a self-order kiosk, plasma-screen menus, a mosaic-tiled yogurt bar and indoor / outdoor seating. Five other Chicago locations also are in the works.

Berry Chill founder and CEO, Michael (Mikey) Farah, grew up in North Chicago. He's a Cubs fan, but I told him that I wouldn't let that tarnish my desire to have his store in Milwaukee.

"We're focusing on major Midwestern cities as well as a few international destinations that we are in talks with. There's no city that this doesn't work in. We just have to decide where we go first (after Chicago)," said Farah.

"Because our product is so unique (it's all lactose-free), we have to actually bring our technology with us. It's very labor intensive," he added.

Berry Chill was developed with the help of Dr. Mitchell S. Kaplan, a gastroenterologist. Its yogurt bar offers a daily menu of plain chilled yogurt and rotating flavors made with all-natural ingredients that include pomegranate, green tea and "chilled" hot chocolate. More than a dozen fresh-fruit toppings also are available, such as lychee, papaya and star fruit, and more than 30 dry toppings include milk and honey granola, mochi and several cereal brands.

In fact, as I talked to Farah, he and his team were working on flavors for the fall and winter. "Pumpkin pie, banana walnut bread and ginger bread ... a little more seasonal, with the health benefits of yogurt," he said when I asked for a fall forecast.

Need another reason to want a Berry Chill? When you sign up for Berry Chill's Culture Club program, you get a membership card that remembers your purchases and every time you use it, the company donates three percent of each sale to your choice of one of its partner charities.

Farah promised to keep me updated. I promised to eat plenty of yogurt if he opens in Milwaukee. Stay tuned.



More Information ...
Related links:

3 comments about this article.
Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by Preview
SoCalDrummer I live in Los Angeles and we've had Pinkberry foyo for a couple of years now...sounds ...
buck yogurt sucks, give me a custard. tcby is dead for a reason.
paperklip I just emailed 'em. Milwaukee needs to break away from opening one sandwich ...

Recent blogs/briefs by Jeff Sherman
M&I lights up, rocks the Milwaukee skyline
Wednesday
Back again from M&I Bank are two 18-story electric guitars. Nearly 940 windows on the ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. "Today's" paper gets the score wrong, and a funny look at the Times
June 25, 2009
Another indication of the demise of print comes from today's print edition of the Milwaukee ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Karma owners opening new restaurant in Pewaukee
June 25, 2009
Lake Country is getting a new restaurant courtesy of the owners of Karma, 600 E. Ogden ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Got a retail idea? Grand Avenue has free rent & more
June 25, 2009
The Shops of Grand Avenue is looking to create some excitement with a promotional contest, ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Prove your competitive eating prowess on Thursday
June 23, 2009
At 7 p.m. Thursday at the Irish Pub, 124 N. Water St., 10 Milwaukeeans will have the chance ...

OnMilwaukee.com is part of the In Click Network. Other In Click sites include: 30RockReport.com | Behind The Scenes at OnMilwaukee.com | BetterRecipes.org | Bimmer Digest | Brain Brawn & Body | BrewCityBeats.com | Brewcitybigscreen.com | BritPop Rocks | Brooklynbanter.com | CactusLeagueReport.com | Caffeinateddigest.com | Culinary Piedmont | Cycling Chainring | Daily Lost Update | Daily Milwaukee News | Daily Spa | DannyGokeyMilwaukee.com | Dogs Blogs | EarthFueled.com | Edible Wisconsin | Gadget Deals and Steals | GolfLinksWisconsin.com | H1N1 Alerts | H1N1 Blog | H1N1 Prevention | H1N1 Reporter | H1N1 Tracker | HogEnthusiast.com | Informed Runner | iPhone Daily Report | Man United Nation | Milwaukee Brewers Nation | Milwaukee Bucks Blog | Milwaukee Dad | Minnesota Wild Nation | MomMilwaukee.com | My Super Stocks | MyGayMilwaukee.com | MyHangoverHelper | News on Draught | NY Mets Nation | OnAtlantaGA.com | OnAustinTX.com | OnBaltimoreMD.com | OnBirminghamAL.com | OnBostonMass.com | OnBuffaloNY.com | OnCharlotteNC.com | OnCincinnati.com | OnClevelandOH.com | OnColumbusOH.com | OnDallas.com | OnDCmetro.com | OnDenverCO.com | OnDetroitMI.com | OnFortLauderdale.com | OnGreenBay.com | OnHartford.com | OnIndianapolisIN.com | OnKansasCityMO.com | OnLosAngelesCA.com | OnLouisvilleKY.com | OnMadison.com | OnMemphisTN.com | OnMiamiFLA.com | OnMilwaukee.com Cars | OnMilwaukee.com Metro Headlines | OnNashvilleTN.com | OnNewOrleansLA.com | OnNYCny.com | OnOrlandoFL.com | OnPalmSprings.com | OnPhiladelphia.com | OnPhoenixAZ.com | OnPittsburgh.com | OnPortlandOR.com | OnProvidence.com | OnRichmondVA.com | OnSacramento.com | OnSaltLakeCity.com | OnSanAntonioTX.com | OnSanDiegoCA.com | OnSanFran.com | OnSanJose.com | OnSeattleWA.com | OnSinCity.com | OnStLouis.com | OnStPetersburg.com | OnTampaBay.com | OnTucsonAZ.com | OnTwinCities.com | OnWichita.com | OnWindyCity.com | Packers Posts | Porsche 911 Fans | PriusFans.com | Roller Derby Network | SnuggieFans.com | SummerfestRocks.com | Swine Flu China | Swine Flu Reporter | The 24 Reporter | The Barack Obama Fan Club | The Brilliant Manager | The Comic Book Reporter | The In Click | The Office Fan Blog | TheHDTVReporter.com | TheNetbookBlog.com | TheNewParentBlog.com | Trueguitarheroes.com | Vintage Mets | VW Busses | WaukeshaWeekly.com | Weekly Media News | WisWomen.com | Woodworker Digest