Frozen Treat on Broad Street

The idea came during a family vacation in Florida. Jill Pecoraro’s daughter, Melissa, wondered why the frozen yogurt shops they loved down there couldn’t be found in New Jersey. The question was simple enough that it prompted Jill to do her own research into the growing trend of self-serve frozen yogurt.

The end result: Pecoraro decided to open up her own frozen yogurt shop.

Called Kravings Frozen Yogurt, the new Broad Street business opened Monday with the promise of a pay-by-the-weight yogurt and toppings concept, one that employs a near-unlimited number of flavor combinations for anyone looking to mix it up.

Sure, you can just get your frozen yogurt – there are always 12 flavors available – but the key is what you can do with the blank frozen canvas. Pecoraro said Kravings has 25 dry toppings, eight cereal toppings, 12 cold toppings, and a number of wet toppings, like hot fudge and liquid peanut butter. With the pay by the ounce system, the customer can have as little or as much of they want of anything the shop has to offer.

Though is right next door with its own ice cream bar, and Frozsurt just around the corner with its own frozen yogurt, Pecoraro things Kravings will slide right into its own niche.

“There’s nothing else around here like this,” she said during an interview Monday. “This is a different concept; this is self-serve.”

The opening hasn’t been without its hiccups. A sign in the window advertised a coming Bliss Berry for months. That franchise, however, went out of business and Pecoraro was forced to adapt. The result was Kravings, and a new business opportunity Pecoraro plans on turning into a franchise of her own once Kravings in Red Bank establishes a foothold.

The longtime Ocean Township gym owner thinks Kravings has come just in time.

“It’s the new wave,” she said. “This is the new thing. All you have to do is try this, it’s that good.”

Kravings is open seven days a week Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information call (732)530-1064.