Yogurt or Not, Pinkberry's Coming in '08

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THE PUBLIC AT LARGE is in the dark about exactly what's in Pinkberry's "frozen yogurt," but that hasn't stopped the dessert chain from taking Southern California and New York City by storm and making plans to come to D.C. next year.

Lucas Junkin, the company's real estate coordinator, said he'll begin planning for a D.C. launch after he finishes preparations to bring Pinkberry to Northern California and Phoenix. The District could have one or two flagship Pinkberry shops by mid-2008, Junkin said.

"D.C.'s a priority, compared with our other upcoming locations," he said. "It's not going to be long before it opens."

Pinkberry recently drew controversy when it was forced to stop calling its dessert "frozen yogurt." The Los Angeles Times reported last week that Pinkberry's signature treat contains fewer bacteria cultures than is necessary under California law to be properly defined as frozen yogurt. The dessert also doesn't meet a California requirement that all products marketed as frozen yogurt be mixed at a manufacturing plant. Each Pinkberry location mixes its own product on-site.

When talking with us, Junkin referred to Pinkberry's product as frozen yogurt before correcting himself and calling it "Pinkberry," which is the name the company now uses to refer to its signature dish. But what is "Pinkberry," exactly?

It's a question some are asking with particular vigor: The company has been sued by a Los Angeles-area customer named Bryan Williams, who alleges that the company misled customers by calling its product frozen yogurt. In his lawsuit, Williams seeks no damages, but asks Pinkberry to disclose its ingredients. So far, though, they remain a mystery.

"Pinkberry" comes in two flavors: original and green tea. It is served with toppings including fruit, berries, carob chips and childhood cereals like Fruity Pebbles and Cap'n Crunch.

Regardless of what Pinkberry's dessert is called, its low-calorie, low-fat formula could make it a hit in health-conscious D.C. The store, which also serves smoothies and shaved ice, could fill the void left by once-trendy smoothie and juice outlet Jamba Juice, which has just two D.C.-area locations left. Washington Post writer Hank Steuver listed Jamba Juice as "out" and Pinkberry as "in" in his 2007 iteration of "The List."

In L.A., Pinkberry has inspired block-long waits and fights with neighbors over noise and trash. Some have even christened the company's signature dessert "Crackberry."

What do you think? Will Pinkberry become the next big thing in D.C.? Let us know in comments.

Written by Express contributor Gabe Nelson
Screen capture from pinkberry.com