In the little over two-weeks time since Rob Cervoni officially opened his 16 Handles frozen yogurt franchise on Middle Neck Road in Great Neck Plaza, he has gotten used to the surprised looks.
A 2006 Great Neck South High School alum, who only last year graduated from Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL, with a degree in business management, Cervoni understands it’s only natural for people to be somewhat surprised by a 23-year-old owning and operating his own business.
“I keep hearing that,” Cervoni said. “I’m thankful for everything I’ve got. I’ve been working my butt off.”
And at least initially, it appears his efforts have been well worth the effort.
Since opening the shop on Dec. 11, Cervoni said local residents have embraced having another choice for frozen yogurt in Great Neck. He said 16 Handles has been averaging 600 customers per day over the past two weeks.
“Absolutely amazing,” Cervoni said of the local reaction to his shop’s opening. “The town loves us. We’ve been packed wall to wall every single day. We’re doing incredible business.”
For Cervoni, it was what he called a burgeoning “frozen yogurt craze,” which initially drove him to open a Great Neck location of the Manhattan-based eatery. ‘
“I graduated college and I was looking for different things to do,” he said. “I looked at a whole bunch of franchises. I looked at car washes. I looked at everything. I found this new frozen yogurt craze and I loved it.”
The six-week process of opening a 16 Handles location begins with a franchise application, which is pre-approved by the parent company.
After a phone interview, applicants are asked to submit their financial statement for qualification before receiving a franchise disclosure document. Typical start up costs for a 16 Handles franchise run between $450,000 and $650,000, depending on the size location and existing condition of the potential storefront property, according to 16 Handles’ Web site.
Once he met with representatives from 16 Handles, Cervoni said the process was easily set in motion.
“I met with the people from 16 Handles and they liked me so we started doing business together,” he said.
There are currently eight 16 Handles locations in operation around New York, with 10 set to open across the state soon. There are also franchises currently operating in Connecticut, Florida, Maryland and New Jersey with sites set to open in Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico in the near future, the 16 Handles Web site said.
“Pretty much what we are is, we’re a self-serve frozen yogurt store,” Cervoni said. “We have 16 flavors at all times. We have over 40 toppings.”
Patrons are encouraged to mix and match any of those 16 kosher frozen yogurt flavors with any of the toppings to create their own perfect combination, Cervoni said.
“What you do is you create your own frozen yogurt,” he said. “You put your own toppings on it.”
Cervoni’s shop sells birthday cakes, takeout quarts and other frozen-yogurt-inspired desserts. The Great Neck 16 Handles also has what Cervoni called a “huge party room” where patrons can hold birthday celebrations.
“We’ve been doing great business, even in the winter,” Cervoni said. “You’d be surprised how many people want yogurt in 33-degree weather.”
The Great Neck 16 Handles currently employs 15 part-time employees. Cervoni said nearly all of them either attend or are alumni of Great Neck South High School
“Right now, since we just opened, I’m there every day,” he said. “Pretty much I am running that store right now until I find a manager.”
“It’s a little difficult because you’re working around everyone’s schedules,” he added. “But, you’ve just got to make it work.”
For Great Neck resident Vicky Harris, who visited 16 Handles for the first time last Thursday, things are certainly working well.
“I like it,” Harris said. “They have all my favorite flavors here.”
Harris said her favorite frozen yogurt flavors are cookies and cream and vanilla. She recently received a coupon for the store and decided to give it a try.
“It’s good,” she said. “I’d come back a few times.”
Great Neck residents Heather Hope and her niece Allison also visited the store for the first time last week.
Although the pair said they also enjoyed Great Neck’s 32 degree froyo, frozen-yogurt lounge located on Great Neck Road, they said they would come back to 16 Handles again.
“It’s good,” Allison Hope said. “I like it.”
“We knew it from the city,” her aunt added of 16 Handles. “I’d come back. They have the best location.”
Cervoni is hoping the Great Neck location isn’t his last. If all goes well in Great Neck, the budding entrepreneur said he plans to open five additional locations in Long Island over the next three years.
“That’s really my plan and then I’ll go from there,” Cervoni said. “If those five are successful, I’ll open up more.”
