Shut up and spoon me. No shirt, no shoes, no spoon. Spooner of the month.
These are just a few of the phrases that Bub Hatch and Ryan Combe are considering as in-store marketing ideas to put smiles on the faces of customers at their new frozen yogurt shop, Spoon Me.
Combe described the philosophy behind the new business as “being good to the body we live in and the earth we live on.”
Combe and partner Hatch, a recent U public relations graduate, are close to opening the doors at their location on 400 South, next to Caf Rio. The space was formerly occupied by a Quizno’s franchise.
Hatch and Combe will be offering customers live-culture frozen yogurts in plain and green tea varieties. A large choice of toppings will include fresh and dried fruits, nuts, granola and some sweet treats such as Captain Crunch cereal, chocolate chips and gummy bears. A whipped yogurt beverage is also in the works.
The owners’ focus on an eco-friendly business approach is already evident in their renovation of the building. Bamboo, a quick-growing, renewable resource, was used for the floors, and high-efficiency, energy-saving appliances were installed throughout the restaurant. They’ve also replaced all light fixtures with new, low-consumption models.
Combe said he believes they are the first Salt Lake City restaurant that will be utilizing biodegradable and compost-friendly products for 100 percent of their service containers. These products include new, corn-based utensils and containers that look like the plastic used in most restaurants, but have a 90-day breakdown cycle.
A customer service specialist from Eco Products, a Boulder, Colo., based company that features eco-friendly food service products, said that there is an increasing awareness and demand for items like those being used at Spoon Me. She said that the trend, which started as a West Coast phenomenon, is now in nation-wide demand.
Hatch and Combe want their new business to be connected to the community. They will be offering exhibition space to local artists and hope to offer live local music on weekends. They also plan to eliminate the all-too-common tip jar in favor of a donation jar for local charities, which will rotate on a monthly basis.
All TRAX patrons will get a discount when they visit the store by simply showing a pass or train/bus ticket.
Hatch and Combe plan on an Oct. 5 opening date.
Further information on the business and their earth-friendly ideas can be found at www.spoonmeyo.com.