Fun fact: Soulard often gets referred to by its residents as "The Island." Why? On a plat map, or a map drawn to scale showing the divisions of a piece of land, Soulard sets itself apart from the city. Staying true to his "Islander" roots, owner Jason Stump plays on the theme of his neighborhood with the Island Frozen Yogurt (1009A Russell Boulevard; 314-664-6678), a tropically themed shop specializing in frozen treats and sweet toppings sold by the ounce.
General manager Jennifer Groby says that since its opening, customers stop in every now and then joking that Stump brought the Island to "The Island," but mostly, people seem ecstatic about the existence of the area's first purveyor of frozen yogurt. Stump began conceptualizing his shop about a year ago when he noticed the vacant space open in the Soulard Fine Arts Building.
Somewhat serendipitously, the building originally housed a dairy in the early 1900s, as evidenced by its exterior facade featuring a sculpted dairy girl and cow. Nowadays, the space features everything from a mosaic wave at the entry point and sparkling interior Tiki hut to palm trees and a cleverly constructed counter top filled with sand, seashells and beach-themed figurines.
"It's really great to us that everyone can bring their whole family and enjoy the whole experience together," says Groby, whose twelve-year-old daughter often volunteers to dog watch for patrons as they enjoy picking out their desserts. "We plan on having some yogurt available for dogs soon, too!"
The Island offers gluten-free, kosher-certified YoMazing! frozen yogurt produced by Pacific Valley Dairy in Pacific. YoMazing! bases come in four different varieties: vanilla, chocolate, tart and sorbet, which can be dressed up with some 43 available flavors. Groby carefully pairs combinations to coincide with the Island's vibe, featuring flavors like "Cheesecake Escape," "Root Beer Float Trip" and "Bunch O'Bbananas."
Expect to hear the sounds of UB40 and the like while choosing from six different flavors or three swirl combinations at a time, with varieties switched out regularly. The toppings bar features typical garnishes to personalize cups, such as cookie bits, candy pieces, fruit-flavored boba, sauces, sprinkles and whipped cream, with the added bonus of fresh fruit chunks from the Soulard Farmers' Market down the street.
The Island's current operating hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Grand opening party plans will culminate on Sunday, April 22. Stay tuned for details and see what flavors become available on a weekly basis by keeping track of changes via the Island's Facebook page.
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