Easley Just Got A Little Sweeter

Roman Matonis had spent 30 years of his life working for one company.

With a background in finance and manufacturing/distribution within the medical research industry, Matonis never dreamed he might one day work his way out of a job.

But Rainin Instruments, LLC, had other ideas for the controller who suddenly found himself without a job.

The company was sold and he was given the opportunity to go to California, it was a move Matonis wasn't willing to make.

Instead, he was led to South Carolina and after three years without a job, Matonis is building a "sweet" business for his family.

Blueberry Frog will open at 5 p.m. in Easley Town Center.

The frozen yogurt or fro-yo shop will be the fifth Blueberry Frog to open in the Upstate.

"This will be the first self-serve location," Matonis said. "We will have 10 flavors of yogurt to choose from and then you can add more than 50 toppings."

The yogurt is then weighed to determine the cost through the store's state-of-the art accounting program that runs off an iPad.

But why frozen yogurt? Matonis said it's easy. He has three children who have been scooping ice cream for a long time.

"The kids had all worked for Kimbell's Farm in Massachusetts, where they make their ice cream from scratch," Matonis said. "We tried BlueberryFrog when we moved here, and started to ask about franchising opportunities."

And now, after seven months of work, Matonis and his wife, Petrina, as well as their children are starting to see all of their hard work pay off.

The shop, decorated in lime greens and electric blues, offers a quiet intimate environment to visit with friends and enjoy a sweet treat. White sofas, butcher block tables and bamboo-themed walls offer a tranquil setting. Overhead, be sure to check out the bucket lights that can be changed to reflect the seasons, holidays or the time of year.

"We are excited about being in Easley," Matonis said. "This is a growing business park and merchants have been signing on to be here since 2008, so we knew this was going to be the hot new location."

Matonis said he had enjoyed getting to know his neighbors in the business park and can't wait to see when all the space inside it is maximized.

The shop will be open from 12 to 9 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 12 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays; and from 1 to 9 p.m. on Sundays.