During a time of year normally reserved for redbuds that eventually grow into greenery, Zionsville is about to get a dose of orange.
Orange Leaf, that is.
The self-serve yogurt chain just opened in Zionsville, 1474 W. Oak St.
Zionsville’s Gregg Boeck owns the venture, one of dozens of Orange Leaf locations in various stages of construction around the nation. The chain boasts more than 130 stores, with many more set to open.
Boeck, a salesperson by trade, feels he bought into the idea of operating an Orange Leaf at the right time.
“I’ve been selling vascular prosthetics for 15 years,” he said. “Thatpays the mortgage, but my wife and I always look for things to help pay for our kids’ college.”
A chance visit to the Westfield Orange Leaf last year caught Boeck’s attention.
“It’s a cool concept,” he says of the do-it-yourself model, which allows customers to fill their cup with one of 16 flavors of yogurt and choose from 36 toppings, which they apply themselves. There are also sugar-free, gluten-free and lactose-free options.
“It’s family-friendly, open and cheery. The growth of the company is trending upward, and fast. I thought it would be a neat business to have,” Boeck said.
Zionsville’s Orange Leaf, which he envisions will employ between 18 and 22 people at all times, will be overseen by Boeck’s wife, Michelle. Gregg, who will maintain his career, plans to have a hands-off approach to the day-to-day aspect but adds, “I live a mile up the road, so I’ll always have a hand in it.”
Boeck has been met with well-wishes and an overwhelmingly positive reaction to his venture – partly, he says, because of the power of word of mouth.
“My kids were the marketing plan, quite frankly,” he says. “We didn’t tell them until the lease was signed, but after that, the floodgates opened. They’ve been bombarded with requests for applications and questions about when we open. I’ve been stopped on the street and at the mailbox and asked about it. The response has been nuts.”
