Downtown yogurt shop serves up low-fat treats, promotes healthy living
There are probably not very many students or Columbia residents who have not heard of Yoghut.
The frozen yogurt shop has become immensely popular since opening its doors in June 2010. Owner Shafen Khan, a USC alumnus, started the business with his family.
The shop, which has three Columbia locations, specializes in self-serve frozen yogurt, along with do-it-yourself toppings.
The large selection of flavors are sold by the ounce, and customers can also add toppings themselves from a selection including items such as gummy bears, white chocolate chips and sprinkles.
The selection of flavors changes from day to day, but the original tart flavor is always sure to be on tap. In addition to original tart, Yoghut also offers butter brickle, cheesecake, apple pie and Garnet Velvet.
Yoghut offers more on its menu than just frozen yogurt. Smoothies have grown to be a large part of the menu. Flavors of smoothies are various combinations of fruits, including strawberries, bananas, coconuts, guavas and mangos, among others.
"Super smoothies" are also available. These smoothies are combinations of fruits with boosters such as energy, immunizer, multivitamin and memory, among others.
Khan said having a location close to the gym creates a demand for smoothies and healthy options.
"Being right across from Strom (Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center), I thought we could do smoothies as well," Khan said.
At the downtown Columbia location, Kahn said about 60 percent of the customers are USC students.
Yoghut puts emphasis on promoting a clean and healthy lifestyle. All of the yogurt flavors served at Yoghut are either fat-free or low-fat and contain calcium, protein and live active cultures. The shop also takes pride in serving yogurt that is kosher certified and does not contain gluten or artificial flavoring.
In addition to yogurt and smoothies, the downtown Columbia location offers coffee drinks.
Since opening its first location in downtown Columbia, Yoghut has seen a rapid growth in popularity. Khan said the third Yoghut location opened last Wednesday on Harrison Boulevard, with one more shop located in Forest Acres.
Khan hopes Yoghut can serve as a place where students and locals can meet up and socialize.
"When you look around (USC), there are not many places to hang out," Khan said. "We want to be able to bring people together."
While taking a break from school in California in 2007, Khan said he noticed the frozen yogurt business there was rapidly growing. Upon returning to school, Khan said he missed having frozen yogurt and got the idea of opening up his own shop.
With his graduation coming soon and the doubtful job market, Khan discussed the idea with his dad, who encouraged him to work on getting a business plan together.
"(My dad) told me to go ahead and create a business plan and start researching it," Khan said.
After finishing his last semester in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, the business plan became Khan's main focus.
Khan said he thinks the business has been successful because he and his family have "stuck to the plan."
"Nothing has changed," Khan said. "As long as I stick to the plan, I think that I will continue to be successful."
Yoghut is located in downtown Columbia at 601 Main St., in Forest Acres at 5424 Forest Drive and at 278 Harrison Blvd. The shop is open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from noon until 10 p.m. on Sunday.
With a rotation of healthy self-serve frozen yogurt, smoothies and a variety of toppings, Yoghut is a great place to hang out and have some sweet bites.