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Business & Tech

YoChi Comes to Patchogue

New dessert place features make-your-own sundaes.

When deciding where to start new frozen yogurt shop YoChi, entrepreneurs Nadia Khan and Allison Campbell knew they were at home in Patchogue.

"We fell in love with what the community had to offer," Campbell said. "The combination of being close to the water, near schools, and the overall energy of the village ignited a great interest in us."

On Aug. 19 the duo opened their frozen yogurt shop in the Four Corners area, at 83 South Ocean Ave., an area that is part of the revitalization efforts of downtown Patchogue.

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"We feel that YoChi fits perfectly into the general scheme of renovating Patchogue," Campbell said. "We both wanted to open up a place where our customers felt comfortable and relaxed."

The new dessert shop serves frozen yogurt in a salad-bar-type setting, allowing customers to mix and match flavors and toppings to their liking. Once finished, sundaes are weighed and customers are charged 49 cents per ounce.

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Campbell said YoChi's frozen yogurt is certified by the National Yogurt Association for having live and active cultures and all of the shop's frozen yogurt is certified Kosher Dairy.

Kahn and Campbell got their start through nonprofit S.C.O.R.E., which advises entrepreneurs on starting their own businesses.

The two said their consultant, Ed Kiernan, from the organization and Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri encouraged them to set up shop in the village.

Kiernan said that as part of the consultation he helped Kahn and Campbell draw up a business plan for the store and counseled them on how to start, grow and market the shop.

While YoChi is part of the new-and-improved Patchogue, Campbell said she still wanted to maintain some of the historical feel of her shop's new digs. During the renovation, the women decided to restore and keep the original ceilings in the building.

The 83 South Ocean Avenue location was last open for business two years ago as a store called Shirts & Stuff.

"We really liked that Patchogue is a historic community and felt the need to preserve the building as much as we could," Campbell said.

Campbell and Kahn said they've gotten a warm welcome from the local community and customers have reacted positively to the idea of making their own desserts.

"It's really cool to be that involved in what I'm eating," said one Patchogue resident. "I can make anything I want without the mess of cleaning up at home."

Nearby dessert shops declined to comment on YoChi's opening.

Unlike many ice cream places, YoChi will remain open throughout the winter. Kahn said the two may add cupcakes or coffee to their signature treats for customers in the cold weather.

Kahn and Campbell have already gotten involved in their new community, sponsoring this year's Walking Arts Tour and participating in the upcoming Patchogue Chamber of Commerce Oktoberfest raffle.

"We met with many people within the village and liked that it was a somewhat tight-knit community," Campbell said. "For us, 83 South Ocean was a diamond in the rough."

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