Downtown Sisters has waited for, it seems, forever for Cuppa Yo to open (at 281 W. Cascade). For a while there, we wondered if the wildly popular Bend-based buy-by-the-ounce frozen-yogurt bar would ever open its doors. Well, today at 2 p.m., the new shop finally served its first cup of Yo (which is crafted from Portland-based YoCream), and by 3 p.m., the place was packed. (Word spreads fast, thanks in part to the flagship Cuppa Yo’s 7,400+ Facebook fans).
What’s the big draw here? Actually, there are several, and they’re all pretty much guaranteed to appeal to kids (of all ages). There’s the blinding pop-art color scheme (quite a departure for the typical Cowboy-inspired decor of Sisters). The tempting line-up of pump-it-yourself yogurt-dispensing stations (40 cents per ounce, and sampling is allowed). The rotating cast of offbeat yogurt flavors (most of which are non-fat), with clever names like “Luck O’ the Irish Mint,” “Cable Car Chocolate,” “Mango Tango Sorbet,” “Cake Batter Up!,” and “Pomegranate Raz Sorbet.” The dizzying array of toppings (everything from fresh fruit, brownies, cookies, nuts, candy bars, and cereal to various sauces and syrups and, of course, whipped cream) — which you also pile on yourself (watch out for that one!). The groovy ’70s-inspired decor. The low-key eager-to-assist staff.
Founded in 2009 by two young Bend-based sisters and their husbands, Cuppa Yo has been voted Bend’s best dessert twice. If today’s any indication, the Sisters location should be well-ensconced, long before the summer swell arrives.
Here’s a look at opening day in pictures:
About the Author
Lisa Broadwater, GRI, CDPE, is a Central Oregon-based real estate professional who specializes in listing and selling homes, especially in Sisters, Tumalo, Bend and Redmond.