By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News
After a decade of “serving smiles”, Steiner Ranch residents Bob and Kathy Elmer closed their local Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt site to focus on their two other locations and a growing business serving school districts.
“People have been great, coming to see us all week,” Bob said. “Thanks to the community for all their support all these years. Thanks for keeping us in business for 10 years.”
The Elmers opened their store near Randalls at 5145 RM 620 N. when the shopping center was new.
“It is with a heavy heart that we have made the very difficult business decision to not renew our lease for Menchie’s Quinlan Crossing,” the Elmers shared via a posting in their store window. “This decision has been incredibly difficult, and we are heart-broken to close our doors.”
Challenges to finding weekday labor was one reason they closed but the couple also is constantly running back and forth managing their two other very busy Menchie’s locations. They also have a fast-growing business serving school districts across the country.
“We can no longer provide the service and support that our Four Points guests deserve,” Bob said.
The Elmers expected to sign a lease extension for at least another 12 months, however, negotiations did not go in their favor.
“The landlords are a problem. We felt we negotiated in good faith,” Elmer said. “We have other locations with 10x more car traffic and 3x more foot traffic and rent here is the same price.”
He noted that the Menchie’s site always had more sales when a restaurant was across the street because patrons would come to Menchie’s for dessert.
“But they can’t keep a restaurant in business and there’s no reduction in rent,” he shared. “We asked for several concessions to keep us on but they weren’t willing to meet us anywhere in the middle.”
Despite that, the Elmers said that someone can do really well financially with the store if they can dedicate a lot of time to working at it themselves.
“It’s a great opportunity for someone who may want one store they can operate,” Bob said.
October 16 was the last day the Steiner Menchie’s was open and the lease ends at the end of the month.
The Menchie’s Lakeline Market location at 14028 N. U.S. Hwy 183 or their Cedar Park Town Center at 909 E. Whitestone Blvd. can take gift cards and Smileage reward cards. Also those sites can take orders for event catering or cake ordering.
They shared “Thank You” shoutouts to loyal guests who frequented Menchie’s, to coaches and parents who brought teams by for celebrations (or to ease the pain of a loss), to schools who brought Menchie’s in for events, and to parents who entrusted Menchie’s to provide their son or daughter their first work experiences. They also shared thanks to everyone who supported them during the pandemic.
“Thank you to anyone and everyone over the 10 years who have enjoyed a cup of Menchie’s and allowed us to be a small part of your life in this community,” Bob said. “We have truly enjoyed serving this community.”