CLEVELAND, Ohio — It’s a not-so-smiley day for fans of Menchie’s.
Stark Enterprises, the franchisee behind seven frozen yogurt shops in Northeast Ohio and Erie, announced Monday that all of its locations have closed.
“This decision was not taken lightly, and we are heartbroken having to let go of such a meaningful branch of our family-owned business, and all the wonderful team members that worked tirelessly for years,” a spokesperson said in a statement to cleveland.com. “Menchie’s is in the business of providing treats and indulgences that make customers smile, and unfortunately due to the current times in our country with the COVID-19 pandemic, families must choose to forgo these luxuries in order to provide the necessities.”
The closings affect stores in Westlake, Fairlawn, Avon, North Canton, Brooklyn, Boardman and Erie. The closest remaining open Menchie’s are at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and in Wadsworth, according to the chain’s website. Customers with outstanding gift cards can redeem them there or any other location.
Like other self-serve frozen yogurt shops, Menchie’s had to adapt to an alternate format as a result of new health and safety practices related to the coronavirus. Instead of offering build-your-own, pay-by-weight bowls, employees dispensed the frozen yogurt and toppings, while customers were charged based on the size of the container plus an extra fee for each topping.