After more than ten years in business, Yumberries Frozen Yogurt has become more than just a place to grab a sweet treat. For owner Rhonda Criss, it has grown into a hub for both students and the local community.
“We’ve been here for about ten-and-a-half years. We opened in September of 2015,” Criss said.
Yumberries originally began as part of a small franchise, but today, the Slippery Rock location stands alone.
“I franchised off of somebody else to begin with, but now it’s just me. I’m the only Yumberries around,” Criss said.
Criss said her decision to open the business came after a major career shift. After nearly two decades with one company, she was laid off and transitioned into a fully remote position, something she quickly realized wasn’t for her.
“I absolutely hated it. Being in-person is so much better,” Criss said. “This is my happy place. I like to see people.”
From the start, Criss said she wanted Yumberries to be more than just a frozen yogurt shop.
“My goal when I opened it was for it to be a cool place to go, get a treat, hang out and to be able to give back,” she said.
That goal has taken shape through consistent fundraising efforts. Since opening, Yumberries has partnered with both campus and community organizations, including groups like the Slippery Rock Library, to help raise money.
“It is great advertising for me, so it’s a win-win for both of us,” Criss said.
Although fundraising slowed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Criss said it has recently picked back up, with multiple events scheduled each week throughout the spring.
“Hopefully it’s a positive impact on the different groups on campus and off that are just looking to raise funds for whatever,” she said.
Criss’s passion for fundraising is personal. With four children involved in various activities, including competitive cheer, she spent years helping raise money for teams and organizations.
“I spent a lot of years fundraising, so I’m definitely a big proponent of helping groups be able to,” she said.
While Yumberries serves the broader Slippery Rock community, Slippery Rock University students make up the majority of its customer base.
“Extremely, that is my customer base,” Criss said. “The first couple of years, I could really tell when the SRU kids left campus. It made a huge difference.”
To better serve students, and attract more local customers, Yumberries introduced a student discount early on and expanded its outreach into the community.
“We’ve gotten to where we’re supporting Little League and different things like that, and I think that’s brought in more locals,” Criss said.
The discount is not limited to SRU students.
“It’s not just for SRU, it’s not even just for college students,” she said. “If a high school student comes in with an ID, we’ll give them the discount too.”
As Yumberries continues to grow, Criss said she hopes to keep strengthening its connection with campus organizations.
“If you’re an organization on campus that’s looking to raise some funds, reach out,” she said. “We’re happy to collaborate with you. I think it’s great. It helps us, it helps you: everybody wins.”
As Slippery Rock heads into the warmer months, stop by Yumberries for a sweet treat. The shop is open Tuesday through Friday from 3-9 p.m., Saturday from 1-9 p.m., and Sunday from 1-8 p.m.
