September 6, 2007

Retail Roundup

A sweet summer at Swirls

Frozen yogurt shop tempts taste buds at Almaden Oaks Center

By Shana McLean Moore
Staff Writer

Life got decidedly sweeter in Almaden this summer. It’s all thanks to new business owner Nader “Nate” Hanna and his passion for frozen yogurt and connecting with people that brought Swirls to the residents of Almaden Valley.

Swirls owner Nate Hanna brings customer Jack Kelly a yogurt and a smile.

The minute Hanna, a Campbell resident, noticed the “For Lease” sign in Almaden Oaks Shopping Center at the corner of Meridian and Redmond, he knew it was time for a change. After 16 years in the high-tech world, he was tired of spending his days in an office environment.

Trading a life of spreadsheets for one of swirling sweet treats for smiling faces was an easy transition. Nate and his wife, Diane, enjoy the time they spend in the shop. “People are happy when they are out to treat themselves,” says Diane.

He agrees, “the smiles on the kids’ faces when they skid their bikes to a stop to come in for a yogurt are priceless.”

Hanna says the reaction from the Almaden community has been overwhelming. “People really want me to succeed,” he says. “They come in several times a week and are eager to tell their friends about Swirls.”

One of Hanna’s customers, Karen Denholm, has even taken the extra step of helping him with window displays and marketing ideas, including placing a Swirls sign on her float for the neighborhood Fourth of July parade. “This community is amazing!” says Hanna.

And Hanna hates to let his customers down. “When someone comes in hoping to find a specific flavor that I don’t currently have available, I am far more disappointed that I can’t do something to make their day better than I am to have missed out on a sale.”

He feels particularly proud of the fact that the treat he serves his customers is healthy. His ingredients arrive frozen so as to maintain the nutritional benefits of the live cultures. While Swirls currently offers four flavors of yogurt each day, Hanna will soon be able to offer a wider range of custom organic flavors that he will mix with a yogurt base to each customer’s liking. Hanna is also researching reduced sugar options for his diabetic customers.

As the business expands, Hanna hopes to become more involved in the community that’s given him such a warm welcome by sponsoring school events and sports teams.

In an effort to get the word out to more residents of Almaden Valley, Swirls will be celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, Sept. 15 during their regular business hours of noon to 10 p.m., with free toppings for every yogurt purchased.

Almaden fourth grader Jack Kelly and his mom Kristin might just be the first in line. “Jack likes the yogurt so much that we are here four to five times a week,” says Kelly. When he found out about the free topping, Jack made his plans. It seems as though there’s nothing better than a Cookies & Cream yogurt with an Oreo crumb topping.

Swirls is located at 6081 Meridian Avenue, Suite 40, at the Almaden Oaks Center. Swirls is open from noon to 10 p.m.
daily.