Summer in Frederick is First Saturday’s and Alive @ Five downtown, walks along Carrol Creek, nights at the Keys’ stadium, and frozen treats courtesy of one of our many local ice cream, Italian ice, and frozen yogurt shops. We are fortunate to have a variety of sweet options perfect for a summer night cool down at Menchie’s, located in Market Square shopping center off Route 26 in Frederick, is one such option.
Known for their pick your flavor, pick your topping frozen yogurt selections, Menchie’s is actually about a lot more than good fro-yo. The Frederick franchise, like most of the locations, also offers fruit bars, customizable and character fro-yo cakes, sorbet, and fro-yo cookie sandwiches too. Their yogurt is certified kosher and awarded the live and active culture seal by the National Yogurt Association. Menchie’s prides themselves on using real ingredients in their frozen yogurt recipes and they even offer dairy free, sugar free, gluten free, and vegan options too.
We spent an afternoon getting to know our local Menchie’s shop and franchisee, chamber member Dianna Adams to find out what makes Menchie’s such an awesome part of the Frederick Community.
Menchie’s Frederick
Menchie’s Frederick prides itself on living up to the Menchie’s name which is Yiddish for a good person. Customer care is at the pinnacle of their entire business model and owner/operator Dianna Adams works diligently to employ individuals able to embody this spirit and willing to learn how to convey it to their customers.
“It’s a great opportunity for young people. We strive to teach them standards of excellence so that they can provide the highest quality of excellence to our customers. We teach them good work ethic, communication skills, critical thinking and troubleshooting. We have many young people who come in and are so shy and we teach what I call soft skills: kindness, how to have conversation, how to have compassion. They learn to move beyond their shyness in this setting because we guide with patience and understanding. It’s just work here, it’s more and you’re part of something.”
It’s an attitude that is conveyed the moment you walk through the doors where you’re greeted with eye contact, kindness, and a smile. Customers often convey their gratitude to Wade sharing that they love the Menchie’s yogurt, but they love how they’re taken care of anymore. The line of youngsters with their parents eager to fill their bowls and choose their toppings was proof of that.
Adams shared how her desire to be a business owner led her towards a sweet life at Menchie’s.
“I told myself that I wanted to be two things after I retired: a doctor and a business owner,” said Adams, a retired Army veteran who left the military 16 years ago. Since hanging up her uniform, she has been able to make both of her dreams a reality, having a successful career working in the federal civilian sector and then, three years ago, capitalizing on the opportunity to become a franchise owner for Menchie’s.
Franchise Life: Why It May Be a Perfect Path to Business Ownership
As someone with a second career to consider, the idea to become a franchise owner presented itself via a SCORE class Adams enrolled in with Richard Bach. SCORE provides mentoring and various support services to budding entrepreneurs and small business owners, and it was in this class that Adams determined becoming a franchise owner would be the most efficient and effective way for her to achieve her dream of becoming a business owner, “I could get there without having to start at ground zero,” she explained. “They have the business concept in place and the resources in place that make for an easy transition into being a business owner.”
Connecting to a franchise that would be a good fit for Adams’s interests, goals, and values came next and Menchie’s turned out to be the perfect fit, “The Menchie’s values align with mine. They’re about family, leadership. Their goal is to make someone smile each day. They brand is about being respectful, courteous, and friendly and it’s just a good fit.”
Who Should Consider Becoming a Franchisee
For those who desire to be business owners themselves, Adams believes going the franchise route isn’t a perfect fit for everyone. For those willing to follow concepts put in place by the original brand, however a franchise might be a great way to go. But, it’s not made for those looking for an “easy route”. As Adams explained, there are several things you still have to understand and take care of because you’re still an owner and business operator, “You need to understand various business owner concepts: how to build a good team, human resources responsibilities, how to understand and utilize the available business resources, how to be a good leader, attention to detail.” It’s still hard work.
Three years in, Dianna Adams feels like she made a great choice for herself and her business.
Visit Menchie’s at 2430 Osprey Way, in Frederick.
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.