Freaux Yeaux comes to Mandeville

Unique Furniture

Fred Stark Mural in Progress

Orange Leaf Freaux Yeaux to be exact!  From the beginning, we all understood that MANDEVILLE was going to be special. It all started with a unique, very open floor plan with an exposed ceiling that gives you the illusion that you are in a "Swanky Club" or a "Very Stylish" Gymnasium.  But no, you are somewhere far superior to a CLUB or GYM, and WAY more YUMMY!  With exposed cylinder air conditioning ducts, it creates a very open atmosphere! Several seating options from our COOL Orange Couches, to our chairs and stools totally unique to ALL Orange Leaf stores.  Being located at 3441 E. Causeway Approach in the Shoppes at Rouses has given Orange Leaf the significant advantage of location, location, location!  Orange Leaf Mandeville will open it's doors next week, on Thursday, November 3rd at 11 am and we just can't wait!  It's VERY important to LIKE our facebook page to get in on the FREAUX YEAUX know!  Also, sign up for "THE LEAF" email newsletter that details the happenings and promotions (Coupons) at the Mandeville Location!  The Ribbon cutting has been scheduled for Friday, December 16th at 10am and the GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION will follow the next day on Saturday, December 17th.  You never know who might show up either...we will let you know soon! It's gonna be great! HELLO Mandeville, only 4 more days!

Unique COUCH seating w/ completed Fred Stark Mural

Natchitoches COUNTDOWN!

NATCHITOCHES, Louisiana.  It's where the famous movie STEEL MAGNOLIAS was filmed. You can even stay in the Steel Magnolia house with the M'Lynn, Shelby, or Claree Suites to pick from. You don't have to travel far to experience the charm of the ORIGINAL French colony in Louisiana.  The Natchitoches Historic District comes alive during the famous Festival of Lights held every December drawing record crowds in and out of Louisiana.  Northwestern College is in the heart of the city and PURPLE DEMON PRIDE is displayed everywhere. So what more could we ask for as we open our 4th location of Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt you may ask?  Not much...Natchitoches has it all!  When we made our Orange Leaf Natchitoches facebook page public 5 months ago, it was apparent we had chosen wisely.  Today, we have exactly 1,111 fans and we haven't even opened the doors yet!  Natchitoches also broke the record for the number of applicants who were "dying" to work here. 45 to be exact! Let's just say people are excited!  Every time we came to town with our LEAF shirts on, the questions were sure to follow. "When are you guys opening?" "How can I get an application?"  "We are SO excited Orange Leaf is coming to Natchitoches!", Natchitoches residents would exclaim.

Orange Leaf fits nicely within this quaint community and adds to the unlimited attractions that you don't want to miss.  The mural painted by famous artist, Fred Stark, depicts the famous Orange Leaf Freaux Yeaux neatly centered over the city of Natchitoches in the airbrushed state of Louisiana.  While all the murals are one of a kind, Fred seems to find unique characteristics with each new mural he paints. Natchitoches is no exception. Debuting it HERE on the Geaux Freaux Yeaux blog for the first time, you get a sneak peak of what everyone on Thursday, October 27th will be talking about. We at Orange Leaf Louisiana are so happy to be "Opening Spoon" on 929 Keyser Street in Natchitoches, SPOONER than you think!  See you Thursday!

Natchitoches Mural painted by Fred Stark October 2011

 

What do you have going on right now?

Teri and Mike Poole at their Lodge at Belle Island Hunting Club 

It was this fateful question, when asked to Mike Poole, from his friend in Oklahoma, Steve Cromwell, who owns several Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt stores, that the beginning of Orange Leaf LA sparked into existence. This ONE simple question led the Poole family on a journey that has brought them more joy than could ever have been expected. "Orange Leaf LA is truly a family venture and keeps the kids laughing, on their toes, but more importantly allows them each and everyday to meet new people and form great relationships, who they might not ever had the chance to meet otherwise." states Mike.   Teri and Mike Poole, watching from the sidelines, are so overjoyed to see their children working together, and not only that, SUCCEEDING TOGETHER. 

Tom & Shannon Hagan

Brittany & Cade Eskridge

When THE question was posed to Mike, he tapped his son-in-law, Tom Hagan, husband to his oldest Shannon to take the reigns of the new venture.  Tom went to Oklahoma to visit & speak with Orange Leaf Corporate, and that was all she wrote as they say.  Two weeks later, Olyla, LLC (Orange Leaf Yogurt Louisiana) was formed & with that, signed a contract capturing the rights to the entire state of Louisiana.  The frozen yogurt business was an entirely new adventure, and a long jump from the Oil & Gas business in which they all worked in.  Everything had to be learned and implemented in a very short amount of time.  Tom, along with Mike, picked MONROE for the first store.  

Amy & Brad Lawrence

Tom immediately got his sister and her husband, Amy and Brad Lawrence, involved as they live in Monroe.  From beginning to end, these three waded thought the new experiences of the frozen yogurt business, and pulled off the success that the Monroe store still achieves one year later.  When Monroe opened in December 2010, it was apparent that Tom, Brad and Amy needed help and LOTS of it.  “Shifting into high gear, “ as Mike so often relayed to his kids, was the only way OLYLA, LLC would capture the Frozen Yogurt markets for the 15 required stores that were to open in Louisiana over the next 4 years.  So, what does a family do when called upon to jump?  They say How High?  And that is just what the ENTIRE family did.  Shannon & her sister, Brittany Eskridge were the next to enter the yogurt wars in January 2011.  Brittany’s husband, Cade Eskridge, was shortly to follow.  Brittany and Shannon’s brother, Shane Poole jumped on board in May, and that was the last piece of the puzzle.  

Shane Poole w/ Michael & Catherine

Tom, Shane, Cade, Shannon & Brittany

“It’s funny.”, Shannon says, “Brittany and I share an office and the boys share the other.  The laughter we hear through the walls on a hourly basis leaves Brittany and I staring at each other and shaking our heads.  Work isn’t supposed to be this fun, or is it?” asks Shannon. 

OLYLA will open 5 more stores in the next 2 months, so things are moving at an extremely fast pace.  “In less than a year, we will have 8 of 15 stores open”, says Brittany.  “The kids are getting into it, too. My daughter, Catherine, will be the Dreaming of an Orange Christmas girl depicted in our magazine ads next month!” states Shane.  The older kids are some of the best employees, serving as shift leaders during time on the floor at Orange Leaf.   “OLYLA will employ over 100 employees by the end of 2011,” states Cade. “That is something to be proud of.” The Orange Leaf Louisiana employees are fun, energetic and dependable.  A better team couldn't have been assembled if they tried harder.

Eskridge Kids: Taylor, Paxton, & Tate

Poole Kids: Catherine & Michael

 Tom, Bailey, Shannon, Erin Higginbotham & Blake

Just to think that all of this came from one simple question, What do you have going on right now? This makes you listen to every other question that is posed a little more intently.  You never know when something important might be coming your way if you recognize the opportunity when it presents itself. 

There are NO Questions TOO STUPID at ORANGE LEAF!

What does Cheese say when it gets its picture taken?  or Why can the Professor from Gilligan's Island make a radio out of a coconut, but can't fix a hole in the boat? It was ASK A STUPID QUESTION DAY at Orange Leaf LA, and these were just a couple of the "Stupidest" customers could ask to get 2 ounces off their Freaux Yeaux!  Alaa from Monroe asked, "Why is it called Pineapple when there is neither PINE nor APPLE in it?" Steve from Sulphur asked, "What rhymes with Orange?" Madison from New Iberia asked, "Why are apartments so close together?"  There were some very CREATIVE questions, and it was so much fun laughing when they were asked!  We have THE BEST customers!  Thank you for helping us keep things FUN!



Hey, one more thing! Are you coming to Orange Leaf today?  Wait...that was a REALLY STUPID QUESTION! See you soon...we'll have your FREAUX-YEAUX waiting!

100 is the Magic Number; at least for today!

WOW!  Time sure flies fast when your having fun!  Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt announced Friday, that they opened the 100th Orange Leaf location in Iowa!  We just can't believe that in less than a year, Orange Leaf has doubled in size!  Our 1st Louisiana location in Monroe opened in December 2010 and marked Orange Leaf's 50th location.  Upon opening, we knew that this was going to be something special,  & we were so right!  Congratulations ORANGE LEAF FROZEN YOGURT - Sending that FREAUX-YEAUX love right back at ya!