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After a six-year hiatus, longtime Redwood City frozen yogurt shop Yumi Yogurt is coming back.
The family-owned local chain was established in 1985, with its original Redwood City location closing in 2019 due to a lease expiration. That same year, Avil Soleiman and his two brothers took over the business from its original owners and have continued to operate Yumi Yogurt’s San Mateo and Santa Clara locations. He said the demand for Yumi Yogurt to return to Redwood City fueled their decision to open.
“They say, ‘If you want to make people happy, open an ice cream shop.’ That’s exactly what we did,” Soleiman said. “Our goal is to bring joy to everyone, especially kids and families.”
The new yogurt shop is less than half a mile from its original spot, now located within the Sequoia Station, and is expected to open later this month. And while the space is slightly different from Yumi Yogurt’s original location, the recipes and service style will not change.
“The portions are generous, and the quality is unmatched,” Soleiman said. “Same great taste, just in a new location.”
Yumi Yogurt offers eight frozen yogurt flavors that change daily from a pool of more than 150. Flavor options may include Nutella chocolate, strawberry or Oreo crunch, as well as Carbo Lite and Wow Cow options. Carbo Lite options are lower in calories and can come in flavors such as chocolate pudding, green apple or pink lemonade. Wow Cow is lower in lactose and can come in flavors including gooey peanut butter, churro crunch or Hershey’s chocolate.
The new Redwood City shop will have about 20 to 25 seats inside and will not offer outdoor seating. Customers select their yogurt size ($7-$9.50) and can add toppings for an extra charge.
“We keep things simple, serving each customer one at a time, with clear pricing per cup. What you see is what you pay,” Soleiman said, comparing to other frozen yogurt stores that are self-service and pay by weight.
In addition to frozen yogurt, Yumi Yogurt also sells housemade Yummy Ice Cream. A small cup comes with two scoops, and a medium with three ($7.99-$9.50). Each scoop can be a different flavor for no additional fee. Yumi Yogurt offers 20 to 30 ice cream options at a time, with four or five of them being sorbet. Flavors change weekly and some ice cream options include banana caramel chocolate chip, blue bubblegum and blueberry cheesecake.
Smoothies and yogurt shakes are also offered ($11.05).
“There’s something really special about watching people come in, enjoy their ice cream or yogurt, and have fun together,” Soleiman said. “In today’s world of delivery apps, those moments of shared joy feel rare and meaningful.”
Soleiman looks forward to opening the doors of the new Redwood City location and hopes to continue running the brand for another 20 years.
“We’re not a big corporation, we’re just a small family business, taking things one day at a time,” he said.
Yumi Yogurt, 1019 El Camino Real Unit B9, Redwood City; Instagram: @yumi_yogurt_redwood_city. Beginning late August, open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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