3 Jun, 2012

Frannie’s Goodie Shop Creates a Masterpiece at The Plaza Hotel

Posted by Stacy

Frannie’s Goodie Shop Opens Branch at Plaza Hotel

Frannie’s Goodie Shop of Mount Kisco is taking the YoArt name to a high-end boutique in the upgraded Plaza Hotel food court, which will feature various foodie havens.

Finally, the Plaza gets a dining destination worthy of its grand setting.

Westchester’s favorite Yogurt shop is opening at The Plaza. Frannie’s Goodie Shop, which after a year in Mount Kisco still has lines out the door has opened an upscale branch at Manhattan’s Plaza Hotel . YoArt at The Plaza Food Hall takes Frannie’s Goodie Shops’ trademarked YoArt frozen yogurt and launches it on a more sophisticated scale.

In 2010, celebrity chef Todd English, best known for Boston restaurant Olives and for his show on the Food Network, opened the Todd English Food Hall on the Plaza’s concourse level. Starting Wednesday, a number of high-end boutique food shops, restaurants, bars and confectioneries were added to the gourmet food court, bringing the kiosk count to 20.

Owner Frannie Albanese said a representative of El-Ad Properties, which owns the Plaza, happened to come into her shop while visiting a Mount Kisco resident and was “very impressed with the store,” especially the customer service.

While the Westchester location is really bright and cheery and a very visual experience, at the Plaza, it will be all mahogany and stainless steel, streamlined and elegant.

The difference between the two shops, is a local, small-town feel versus a boutique feel.

“Frannie’s encompasses more than just yogurt, because I also sell coffee, tea, baked goods and confections here,” Albanese said. The Plaza boutique will just be yogurt and toppings under the YoArt name, with the same official slogan: “Create your own masterpiece!”

Customers can easily take things to go (and enjoy in Central Park) or enjoy them in the communal dining seating area (120 seats) within The Plaza Food Hall.

Each of the food hall’s new kiosks was asked to create a signature product to be sold exclusively at the Plaza Hotel location.

Albanese said she decided to name a yogurt flavor “Eloise’s Strawberry,” after the kooky, lovable 6-year-old with the wild imagination who, in the classic children’s book, lives with her English nanny and turtle as a permanent resident of the hotel.

“She’s a pink lover, so we figured strawberry,” Albanese said. “We also have all sorts of toppings like ‘strictly pink sprinkles’ ” and pink M&M-like candies.

The Plaza Food Hall is located in The Plaza at 1 West 59th Street, Concourse Level, New York, NY 10019. The current hours of operation are 10:00am – 8:00pm daily; 11:00-6:00pm on Sundays. YoArt is offering a “Friends and Family” discount for fans of Frannie’s when visiting (20% off).

Eloise would have a field day.