Sweet CeCe’s & YoLo

Today does not feel like a frozen yogurt day, but more recently it did and I went to both Sweet CeCe’s and YoLo in one week. I was struck by how interesting it is that these two business are so similar and so close together, so I thought writing about them at the same time would make sense.

getting the right amount on your spoon is hard

Both of these stores give you a big paper bowl (let’s not call it a cup, it’s huge!) and let you decide which flavor or flavors of yogurt you want, plus toppings you add that include candy, cereal, nuts and fresh fruit. Then you pay by the ounce. They also sell bottled beverages. This isn’t the place where you go to get a cheap cone, this is more of a “gourmet” experience.

Sweet CeCe’s is a franchise owned by a Memphis family – parents of two young daughters. I met the owner, McKay Smith, on my visit and he seemed very customer-focused. YoLo was started locally and has three locations in the Memphis area plus YoLoMobile, obviously I went to the one in East Memphis! YoLo focuses on local ingredients and also sells gelato, which my husband tasted and said was fantastic. Both shops have bright and fun indoor seating plus a patio and very similar offerings, but they do have several differences.

Sweet CeCe’s does birthday parties (they have some dividers they use to create a separate area) and has a punch card where you get up to $5 off with 10 punches. They offer school/organization fundraiser nights and have other school-focused efforts like school newsletter ads that offer a discount, Reading Rewards Cards and “Round-up Days” where a designated school or organization gets money customers opt to donate by rounding up the cost of their purchase. And they have a TV and this chalkboard…which all moms know can help keep your kids occupied for a few more precious moments.

YoLo is doing an online customer loyalty program that includes a coupon for a free 7 oz. yogurt. It’s certainly worth getting the coupon, but the program seems to require a specific iPhone/Android loyalty card app, and it’s not the one I’m already using so I didn’t download it. When I was in the store however they took my email address and registered me for their program, so I guess that’s taken care of. I could have also given my cell phone number, but I didn’t want the texts.

gelato at YoLo

One thing I preferred at YoLo was that you add toppings with a spoon – so you get to decide exactly how much goes on your yogurt. Sweet CeCe’s has theirs in really cool looking tubes, but you’ll probably end up with more than you planned as the toppings come out fast.

inside view of YoLo

Yogurt and toppings walls at Sweet CeCe’s

You can’t go wrong with either shop honestly, they are both really well done inside and the yogurt is delicious. Perhaps it will be a location thing when you do go? Sweet CeCe’s has Chili’s and The Village Toy Maker, plus Isabella and The Pink Door boutiques. YoLo has Huey’s, Ciao Bella, Holiday Deli & Ham and Kid Station. Either way you can’t go wrong!

Sweet CeCe’s
4615 Poplar Ave
Memphis, TN 38117
901-767-1422