Owner Surena Yavari said Tuesday that the lease for the 947 El Camino Real frozen yogurt shop is expiring, and to renew would require an extensive renovation of the aging building that he can't afford. His business partner and uncle also died a year ago and it has been difficult to continue the business without him, Yavari said.
A rent increase did not contribute to the closure, he said.
An array of fro-yo at Yumi Yogurt Redwood City. Image via Facebook/Yumi Yogurt.
Redwood City is the original Yumi Yogurt location, opened in April 1984. Locations followed in San Mateo and Santa Clara, which remain open.
"It was a very, very good ride," Yavari said. "Thirty-five years is a long time."
Longtime customers and former employees shared decades of memories in response to a Facebook post announcing the closure.
"This is beyond sad," Adrienne Duff wrote. "I now live in San Francisco but whenever I'm down visiting my sister in RWC, I stop by Yumi Yogurt. BEST FRO YO EVER!!!!"
