Posted on Mon, Jun. 07, 2010

John Bolton and Sandra Welborn are opening a Yogurt Creations shop in Paso Robles — their fifth frozen yogurt store in San Luis Obispo County.

“I call this business recession-proof,” Bolton said. “Even when someone can’t afford a big dinner that costs 50 to 100 dollars, they can come into Yogurt Creations for two or three dollars and get a treat. The people who have lost their jobs or otherwise scaled back, we’ve gained as customers.”

Yogurt Creations is designed so that customers serve themselves in a buffet-style line and pay according to their serving’s weight.

“We think Americans love their options, and here they can do whatever they want,” Bolton said.

The Paso Robles store will carry 10 yogurt flavors, about 60 toppings and a nonfat sorbet.

Such an “under five dollars” business requires high volume. Bolton says his No. 1 producing store, in downtown San Luis Obispo, sees thousands of people every week.

At 8 p.m., the line runs outside the door and into the courtyard next to Peet’s Coffee off Higuera Street, he said. Bolton, who’s been searching for the perfect Paso Robles location for four years, likes this spot because it’s in the Kohl’s shopping center on Niblick Road, where Baskin-Robbins once was, he said.

“It was all about finding the proper location, parking and access,” he said. “We thought about downtown Paso but since we need so many people to come through — and quickly — we wanted to get by the schools and where they actually live.”

The Paso Robles store will open later this month, Bolton said. Other locations are in Atascadero, Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria.

— Melanie Cleveland