The pizza guy has his designs on becoming the South County yogurt king.
Manteca entrepreneur Jeff Liotard of Mt. Mike’s Pizza fame is taking advantage of the slowdown in the economy to launch a business he believes will be a big hit – a frozen yogurt shop with more choices than the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election.
There were 135 candidates seeking to oust Gray Davis. ChilaBerries Frozen Yogurt targeting an opening in the coming few weeks in the Stadium Retail Center at Airport Way and Daniels Street will feature 150 toppings including 13 hot syrups as well as 16 flavors of frozen yogurt.
ChilaBerries is Liotard’s answer to what he didn’t like about just over 100 yogurt shops he visited in putting together his business plan. The basic premise is freshness combined with a massive selection in a setting where children can easily access toppings at self-serve bars. He’s adding a mural with whimsical touches plus depictions of Manteca area attractions past and present.
The first store isn’t open yet and already he has a second store in the works at the new Raley’s shopping center in south Tracy he’s targeting to open by his birthday on April 13, 2010. He is currently planning six locations with the third possibly being at The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley.
Liotard says he’s been hooked on yogurt since his younger days of frequenting Tiger Yogurt at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.
Liotard has also made arrangements to have gourmet cupcakes at both ChilaBerries and his Mt. Mike’s Pizza stores that will feature five seasonal choices – peppermint and pumpkin as example for Christmas – created by an American River College culinary instructor who is launching her own business. He also will offer gelatos.
Liotard isn’t nervous about forging ahead with an aggressive new business effort in the midst of the Great Recession.
“People are still spending money,” Liotard said. “They are just spending it on different things.”
He noted the pizza business has had to resort to offering two for one offers more frequently to keep business flowing through the doors. he said people are thinking twice about “$50 tickets” but are comfortable with $5 expenditures.
Liotard opened the Mt. Mike’s franchise nine years ago at Louise Avenue and Main Street. He expanded to Weston Ranch, Angels Camp, and Lathrop while at the same time owning the Islander Tavern at the western end of Woodward Avenue and a vending machine business. He has since sold everything but the pizza stores in Manteca and Lathrop.
Liotard worked 15 years for Simpson Paper in Ripon and also ran his own landscaping servcie plus an almond tree shaking business during harvest season.
After selling the two stores and two other businesses, Liotard went into what he called semi-retirement.
His wife Tevani thought it would last about a month. It ended up lasting three months.
“I have to stay busy all the time or I’ll go crazy,” Liotard said.
The store’s name is his creation while the tangerine “C” was picked by daughter Mahlynn to match her orange element and the hot pink “B” was selected by daughter Jaslynn.
Liotard said doing well in business gives him the same rush he got playing for Ripon High football coach Tommy West in 1982 and 1983 as a lineman going both ways when West would roar his approval of a successful offensive block by telling Liotard he “opened a hole big enough for a Mack truck.”
Manteca entrepreneur Jeff Liotard of Mt. Mike’s Pizza fame is taking advantage of the slowdown in the economy to launch a business he believes will be a big hit – a frozen yogurt shop with more choices than the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election.
There were 135 candidates seeking to oust Gray Davis. ChilaBerries Frozen Yogurt targeting an opening in the coming few weeks in the Stadium Retail Center at Airport Way and Daniels Street will feature 150 toppings including 13 hot syrups as well as 16 flavors of frozen yogurt.
ChilaBerries is Liotard’s answer to what he didn’t like about just over 100 yogurt shops he visited in putting together his business plan. The basic premise is freshness combined with a massive selection in a setting where children can easily access toppings at self-serve bars. He’s adding a mural with whimsical touches plus depictions of Manteca area attractions past and present.
The first store isn’t open yet and already he has a second store in the works at the new Raley’s shopping center in south Tracy he’s targeting to open by his birthday on April 13, 2010. He is currently planning six locations with the third possibly being at The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley.
Liotard says he’s been hooked on yogurt since his younger days of frequenting Tiger Yogurt at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.
Liotard has also made arrangements to have gourmet cupcakes at both ChilaBerries and his Mt. Mike’s Pizza stores that will feature five seasonal choices – peppermint and pumpkin as example for Christmas – created by an American River College culinary instructor who is launching her own business. He also will offer gelatos.
Liotard isn’t nervous about forging ahead with an aggressive new business effort in the midst of the Great Recession.
“People are still spending money,” Liotard said. “They are just spending it on different things.”
He noted the pizza business has had to resort to offering two for one offers more frequently to keep business flowing through the doors. he said people are thinking twice about “$50 tickets” but are comfortable with $5 expenditures.
Liotard opened the Mt. Mike’s franchise nine years ago at Louise Avenue and Main Street. He expanded to Weston Ranch, Angels Camp, and Lathrop while at the same time owning the Islander Tavern at the western end of Woodward Avenue and a vending machine business. He has since sold everything but the pizza stores in Manteca and Lathrop.
Liotard worked 15 years for Simpson Paper in Ripon and also ran his own landscaping servcie plus an almond tree shaking business during harvest season.
After selling the two stores and two other businesses, Liotard went into what he called semi-retirement.
His wife Tevani thought it would last about a month. It ended up lasting three months.
“I have to stay busy all the time or I’ll go crazy,” Liotard said.
The store’s name is his creation while the tangerine “C” was picked by daughter Mahlynn to match her orange element and the hot pink “B” was selected by daughter Jaslynn.
Liotard said doing well in business gives him the same rush he got playing for Ripon High football coach Tommy West in 1982 and 1983 as a lineman going both ways when West would roar his approval of a successful offensive block by telling Liotard he “opened a hole big enough for a Mack truck.”
