Update: Dizin Fruttiberri in Watertown Has Closed; Natural FruttiBerri Opens in Its Space

[Ed note: This article was updated on October 17 to reflect the fact that a new shop has opened within the space.]

A shop west of Boston that featured Persian ice cream has shut down, though a new store has taken over the space.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Dizin Fruttiberri in Watertown is no longer in operation, with the social media for the Mt Auburn Street store indicating that its last day was Wednesday, October 9. We have heard from @JoeSosnoff, however, that Natural FruttiBerri is now open there, with an Instagram post saying "Great News...Grand Opening of Natural FruttiBerri...We are with you wishing you the Best in your Journey"

Dizin Fruttiberri featured such items as saffron and rose ice cream along with frozen yogurt and sorbet.

The address for the now-closed Dizin Fruttiberri (and new Natural FruttiBerri) is 127 Mt Auburn Street, Watertown, MA, 02472.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Fruttiberri in Watertown Is On the Market

An ice cream and frozen yogurt shop just west of Boston is up for sale.

According to a source, Fruttiberri in Watertown is on the market, with a listing on Facebook Marketplace indicating that the people behind it are selling the Mt Auburn Street business because they are moving to another state. The listing mentions that the sale includes four frozen yogurt machines three commercial freezers, two commercial refrigerators, and more.

The address for the Fruttiberri space is 127 Mt Auburn Street, Watertown, MA, 02472.

NOTE: We need your help, as Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is dealing with health issues and some major related expenses. Please donate at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

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[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Pinkberry at Boston's South Station Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

An Arizona-based chain of frozen yogurt shops continues to disappear from the local landscape, this time closing an outlet that was frequented mainly by commuters.

According to a post from Eater Boston, Pinkberry at South Station is no longer in operation, with the kiosk being cleared out and the place being taken down from the locations section of the Pinkberry website. This is the second location of Pinkberry to close over the past several weeks, as its shop at the Prudential Center shuttered last month; the only locations now remaining in the Greater Boston area are at Boston University, Logan Airport, and in Braintree.

The website for Pinkberry can be found at http://www.pinkberry.com/

[Earlier Article]
Pinkberry at Boston's Prudential Center Has Closed

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Pinkberry at Boston's Prudential Center Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

An Arizona-based chain of frozen yogurt shops that rapidly expanded into the Boston area several years ago continues to disappear from the local landscape, as yet another location has shut down.

A Twitter post from @CopleyScott17 confirms what a couple of sources told us earlier, that Pinkberry at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay is no longer in business. This is one of a number of Pinkberry shops to close in the local area, including another outlet in the Back Bay as well as stores in the North End, Beverly, Cambridge, Chestnut Hill, Hingham, Lynnfield, Somerville, and Wellesley. Currently, the only remaining locations can be found at South Station, Boston University, Logan Airport, and Braintree.

The first Boston-area location of Pinkberry opened at the Derby Street Shoppes in Hingham in the summer of 2010.

The website for the Pinkberry chain can be found at http://www.pinkberry.com/

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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16 Handles in Brookline's Coolidge Corner Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

A small chain of self-serve frozen yogurt shops has left the Boston area--and the state.

Eater Boston is reporting (via the Patch) that 16 Handles in the Coolidge Corner section of Brookline has closed, confirming what several sources have told us. The chain, which first came to Beacon Street in January of 2013, had been planning to expand to other parts of the Boston area, but no other locations ended up opening in the region, and with the closing of the Brookline shop, there are now no outlets of 16 Handles anywhere in Massachusetts.

Currently, two locations of the New York-based 16 Handles can be found in New England--in Fairfield and Stamford, CT.

The address for this now-closed frozen yogurt shop in Coolidge Corner was: 16 Handles, 1309 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.16handles.com/

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Pinkberry in Harvard Square Has Closed; Will Be Replaced by Pressed Juicery

A frozen yogurt chain has shut down its shop in Cambridge, and it will be replaced by a location of a chain of cold-pressed juice bars.

The Harvard Crimson is reporting that Pinkberry in Harvard Square is now closed and that Pressed Juicery will be moving into the Mass. Ave. space. The article says that the California-based chain of juice bars hopes to open in the late spring, with the place offering an array of juice options along with a soft-serve item that is made using a mix of fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

Pinkberry--which is also based in California--first opened in Harvard Square in 2011, taking over the space where Alpha Omega Jewelers had once been; a number of Pinkberry shops had been located in the Greater Boston area, but several of them have shut down over the past few years, with existing locations remaining in operation by BU in Boston, South Station, the Pru, Logan Airport, Chestnut Hill, Wellesley, and Braintree.

The address for the now-closed Pinkberry (and upcoming Pressed Juicery) is 1380 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

Thanks to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page for bringing this to our attention.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Items from Bakeries and Pastry Shops in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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Pinkberry in Boston's North End Has Closed

An Arizona-based chain of frozen yogurt shops has closed one of its Boston locations.

The North End Waterfront.com site is reporting that Pinkberry on Hanover Street is no longer in operation, having shut its doors after approximately three years in business. It appears that existing shops in Boston's Back Bay (two), South Station, Logan Airport, Boston University, Braintree, Cambridge's Harvard Square, Chestnut Hill, Hingham, and Wellesley remain in business.

Pinkberry, which was established about a decade ago and whose headquarters are in Scottsdale, opened its North End shop in August of 2013, taking over the space where Nahas Shoes had been. It is one of a few local stores to close over the past couple of years, including ones in Beverly, Lynnfield, and Somerville.

The address for the now-closed Pinkberry in the North End was 285 Hanover Street, Boston, MA, 02113. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.pinkberry.com/

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Yotopia: ChoCho's Snacks Opens in Former Japonaise Bakery in Cambridge

An Asian restaurant in Cambridge's Porter Square has opened a new spot next door, taking over the space where a bakery had been.

Eater Boston is reporting that ChoCho's in the Porter Exchange food court recently opened Yotopia: ChoCho's Snacks, replacing Japonaise Bakery & Cafe which had been around the corner from ChoCho's until closing last summer. (The Brookline location of Japonaise remains in operation.) The article says that the store offers frozen yogurt as well as Japanese snacks and bottled drinks.

ChoCho's restaurant features mostly Japanese and Korean fare, including such items as seaweed salad, shrimp tempura udon, pork katsu, bulgoki, and soft tofu stew.

The address for Yotopia: ChoCho's Snacks is 1815 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02312.

[Earlier Article]
Japonaise Bakery and Cafe in Cambridge Has Closed

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Kahala Brands Purchases Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt Chain

The parent company of such brands as Cold Stone Creamery and Blimpie has bought a frozen yogurt chain with a relatively large presence in the Boston area.

Nation's Restaurant News is reporting that Kahala Brands has purchased Pinkberry for an undisclosed amount of money, with the Santa Monica-based chain having its corporate operations moved to the Kahala headquarters in Scottsdale, AZ. The 260-unit frozen yogurt company--which is seen by many as helping start the recent froyo craze--has a number of shops in the local area, including in Beverly, Boston (6), Braintree, Cambridge, Chestnut Hill, Hingham, and Wellesley.

In addition to Cold Stone Creamery and Blimpie, Kahala also operates such brands as Planet Smoothie, Samurai Sam's, America's Taco Shop, Great Steak, and more.

Thanks to @FoodserviceEast for initially bringing this to our attention.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Great Desserts from Boston-Area Spots]

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Yogurtland in Brookline Closes, Chain Apparently Disappears from Boston-Area Landscape

A California-based frozen yogurt chain has closed yet another of its Boston-area locations, and it looks like the chain has completely disappeared from the local landscape.

According to a Twitter post from @Lokay, Yogurtland in Brookline's Coolidge Corner is no longer in business, with a sign out front saying "Thank you to all of our loyal fans and community." The shutting down of the Brookline location follows closures of shops in Boston's Back Bay and Newton Centre, and it appears that the store in Cambridge's Harvard Square is closed as well, as phone calls are not going through and it has been taking off the "locations" map on the website (along with Brookline, the Back Bay, and Newton).

Yogurtland is a self-service frozen yogurt chain that offers flavors such as candy clouds, maple donut, salted dark chocolate, banana nut bread, lemon cream cookie, and root beer float. The chain is headquartered in Irvine, CA.

The address for this now-closed frozen yogurt shop in Coolidge Corner was: Yogurtland, 273 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.yogurt-land.com/

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Yummys Frozen Yogurt Lounge in Arlington Has Closed

It looks like a frozen yogurt place in the northwest suburbs of Boston has closed its doors for good.

A check on the spot yesterday indicated that Yummys Frozen Yogurt Lounge in Arlington Center was locked up with the space cleared out, and someone who was apparently involved with the Mass. Ave. store posted a picture of its tables on The Arlington List Facebook page, asking for a best offer for them. In the thread, she mentioned that Yummys was indeed shuttered permanently, indicating that business was too slow to justify keeping the place open any longer.

Yummys Frozen Yogurt Lounge first opened in the summer of 2013.

The address for this now-closed frozen yogurt shop was 474 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02474.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Update: Pinkberry in Somerville's Davis Square Closes, to Be Replaced by Yumi

[ed note: This article was updated to reflect new information given, including confirmation of Pinkberry closing and info on the restaurant replacing it.]

A chain of frozen yogurt shops has closed one of its Boston-area locations.

According to a post in the Davis Square LiveJournal blog, Pinkberry in Somerville's Davis Square is shuttered apparently due to a ceiling collapse caused by flooding in an upstairs apartment. The post mentions (via Reddit) that the shop may be closed until the spring of 2015, though it is possible that it will never reopen, and a call placed to the Elm Street location of Pinkberry hints that this is the case, as its phone number is no longer in service. As soon as we find out more on the exact status of the shop, we will post an update here.

[January 2, 2015 update: A new entry in the Davis Square LiveJournal blog indicates (via a Twitter photo), that the Pinkberry shop on Elm Street is indeed be gone for good, as a sign saying "hot pot & sushi coming soon" has been put up in the window.]

[March 17, 2015 update: Eater Boston mentions (via a Somerville licensing commission page) that the new restaurant coming to Davis Square will be called Yumi.]

Pinkberry first opened in Davis Square in September of 2013.

The address for this now-closed frozen yogurt shop in Davis Square is: Pinkberry, 263 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144. The website for the chain is at http://www.pinkberry.com/

Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.

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Rancatore's Ice Cream and Yogurt Is Opening in Newtonville

It looks like a pair of ice cream and frozen yogurt shops in the Boston area will be expanding to a third location, with this one being in a western suburb of of the city (like the other two).

According to a Twitter post from @bostonburger, Rancatore's is going to be opening on Walnut Street in the Newtonville section of Newton, with a sign out front saying "coming soon" (no specific opening date has been given as of yet). Once it opens, the new shop will join others on Leonard Street in Belmont and Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington.

[November 25 update: A Twitter post from Rancatore's indicates that the new location in Newtonville appears to be on the verge of opening, as they said "with approval Monday (yesterday) we open THAT day," though as of today (Tuesday) we are still waiting for them to give the official word.]

[November 26 update: A note sent from Rancatore's confirms that the Newtonville shop is now open.]

Based on the other two locations, expect to see a variety of ice cream and frozen yogurt options at the new Rancatore's, along with sorbet, ice cream cakes, frappes, coffee, hot chocolate, and more.

The website for Rancatore's can be found at http://www.rancs.com/

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Mangia Neapolitan Pizza to Open Where The Parlour Had Been in West Roxbury

Yesterday we reported that a pizzeria that took over a location of the Upper Crust had closed. Now we have learned that the people behind a small local chain of pizza spots is planning to move into the space.

An email sent from the group of eateries indicates that Mangia Neapolitan Pizza is looking to open in the West Roxbury space where The Parlour had been, and before that, a location of the Upper Crust. It looks like the new Mangia will continue the concept tested in its Medfield location, with it being a combination pizzeria/frozen yogurt place.

[March 24 update: The West Roxbury Transcript mentions that the new location of Mangia plans to open around the end of April or early May.]

Mangia has locations in Boston's South End, Canton, Cohasset, Holliston, Hopkinton, Medfield, Norton, Sharon, Wenham, and Barrington, RI.

The address for this new combination pizzeria/yogurt shop in West Roxbury is: Mangia Neapolitan Pizza, 1727 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132. Its website can be found at: http://www.eatmangiapizza.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Parlour in West Roxbury Has Closed

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Tasti D-Lite in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

It looks like the number of frozen yogurt shops in the Back Bay of Boston has dropped by one.

One of our readers has told us that Tasti D-Lite on Newbury Street is shuttered, with the shop's Facebook page saying that it has indeed closed (its last day in operation was last Friday). The shop first opened in May of 2011 during a flurry of frozen yogurt shop openings in the Back Bay that included locations of BerryLine , Smoothie King, and Pinkberry. (The Back Bay location of BerryLine has since closed.)

Based on the picture sent to us from the reader, it appears that a public liquidation auction will take place at the site of the now-closed Tasti D-Lite on Wednesday, December 18.

This was the only location of Tasti D-Lite in the Boston area as well as New England; other locations can be found in a handful of states across the country, including New York and New Jersey.

The address for this now-closed frozen yogurt shop in the Back Bay was: Tasti D-Lite, 205 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the chain is at http://www.tastidlite.com/

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[New article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve More of the Best Food Dishes of 2013]

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Monkey King Tea Opens in Malden

A bubble tea shop that also offers a variety of other items--and shares its space with a Chinese restaurant--has opened north of Boston.

An email sent to us indicates that Monkey King Tea is now open in Malden, with its location being within Real Lucky Restaurant on Highland Avenue. (Real Lucky has been in business since the mid-1990s.) The shop offers an array of bubble teas, as well as smoothies, frozen yogurt, and dessert crepes.

Hours for Monkey King Tea are 11:00 AM to 9:45 PM on Mondays and Wednesday through Saturday, and 3:00 PM to 8:45 PM on Sundays.

The address for this new shop in Malden is: Monkey King Tea, 249 Highland Avenue, Malden, MA, 02148. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/MonkeyKingTea

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Pinkberry Is Opening in Lynnfield

A chain of frozen yogurt shops is opening yet another store in the Boston area, with this one coming to a new retail center north of the city.

On Thursday, October 3 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Pinkberry will be "swirling" free yogurt for customers at its upcoming shop at MarketStreet Lynnfield, with its official opening apparently coming on Friday, October 4. The new Pinkberry will join a number of other eating and drinking establishments within the complex, including Boloco, Davio's, The Grove Boutique and Cafe, and the Yard House (Fugakyu, Kings, Legal C Bar, Otto Pizza, and Wagamama will also be opening there). Currently, other locations of Pinkberry can be found in Boston, Braintree, Cambridge, Chestnut Hill, Hingham, North Beverly, Somerville, and Wellesley. The website for the chain is at http://www.pinkberry.com/

MarketStreet Lynnfield is located near the intersection of Routes 128/95 and Walnut Street.

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Yogurtland Is Opening in Boston's Back Bay

A California-based frozen yogurt chain that has opened its first three Boston-area shops over the past few months is going to be opening a fourth, with this one being located in the Back Bay.

Eater Boston is reporting that Yogurtland is planning to open on Newbury Street (between Gloucester Street and Hereford Street), joining other shops in Brookline, Cambridge, and Newton Centre. Based on the other locations, expect the new Back Bay store to be a self-service frozen yogurt place with flavors such as birthday cupcake batter, cinnamon graham cracker, blueberry tart, chocolate milkshake, mango, green tea, and pumpkin pie.

[October 4 update: An email sent this morning indicates that the new Yogurtland in the Back Bay is now open.]

The address for this new frozen yogurt shop in the Back Bay is: Yogurtland, 294 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02115. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.yogurt-land.com/

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Orange Leaf Plans "Massive" Expansion in Massachusetts

An Oklahoma-based chain of frozen yogurt shops that has opened several Boston-area outlets over the past year or so is getting ready to open many more in the region.

A press release from Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt states that a "massive" expansion is coming to Massachusetts, with 18 new stores planned for the state by the end of the year, including its first within the Boston city limits. The chain has already opened a number of shops in Massachusetts, including in Lexington, Marblehead, Needham, Salem, and Somerville, with the plan being for a total of 41 shops coming to the state. The website shows new stores coming to Belmont, Boston, Cambridge, Melrose, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Winchester, and Woburn, along with other communities in the Boston area and across Massachusetts.

The website for Orange Leaf is at http://orangeleafyogurt.com/

[Earlier Article]
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt Coming to Several Boston-Area Communities

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Yummys Is Opening in Arlington Center

Another new frozen yogurt shop is opening in Arlington, and this one is in the center of town.

A check on the space indicates that Yummys is very close to being open on Mass. Ave., taking over the space where the Something Extra clothing store had been. Based on their Facebook page, the new store is a frozen yogurt "lounge" that will offer froyo, as well as possibly some other items (the page has categories that include smoothies, juices, and cupcakes, but we have not yet confirmed whether these will definitely be available). It appears that there will be seating for approximately 20 inside.

[July 11 update: Another check on the place indicates that Yummys is now open.]

A couple of months ago, Frozland Frozen Yogurt also opened on Mass. Ave., a short distance west of the center of town (across from the high school).

The address for this new frozen yogurt shop in Arlington Center is: Yummys, 474 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02474. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/YummysLounge

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