Stir it up at the shack
louise bolger | sun
Nicole and John Coleman will mix up your
choice of flavors in a yogurt or smoothie.
Looking forward to an after-beach treat has been a tradition since beach going became a recreational activity, and what’s better than something that’s cool, creamy and mostly guilt free. You’ll find out at one of Pine Avenue’s newest shops.
Three years ago Nicole and John Coleman relocated to Anna Maria with their three children and immediately became part of the young Pine Avenue business community. While working in their first business Poppo’s Taqueria, a partnership with John’s brothers, they learned that residents and visitors were looking for a yogurt shop along Pine Avenue. So to fill what was an obvious need, in July they opened Stir It Up Yogurt Shack.
The self-serve concept allows for you to create your own combination of premium frozen yogurt and toppings. Some of the flavors are peanut butter, triple chocolate, New York caramel cheesecake, dreamsicle, Tahitian vanilla, strawberry and more which change on a regular basis. With the holidays approaching look for pumpkin, eggnog and candy cane yogurt. The toppings bar contains fresh fruits, strawberry and mango Bobba’s, coconut, Reese's Pieces, chocolate pretzels, sprinkles, nonpareils, Oreo cookies, English toffee and way more.
You also have your choice of regular cups, cones and waffle bowls. When you’re done with your creative masterpiece it gets weighed and you’re charged 53 cents an ounce. They use Honey Hill Farms frozen yogurt an all natural non-fat or low-fat product which is certified gluten free.
Stir It Up can also prepare a healthy smoothie for you using their all natural nonfat yogurt, soy or almond milk, fresh fruit and patented probiotics. You can add a shot of your favorite supplement and they are also starting to incorporate some of Pine Avenue’s organic garden produce into their smoothies.
Nicole Coleman says that drinking a smoothie for breakfast is a great way to get a full complement of natural vitamins and minerals to start out your day and is a wonderful way to get your kids to eat natural foods. In addition their non-fat and low-fat yogurt is a healthy and lower calorie alternative to ice cream.
Stir It Up is also a fun place to visit. The Colemans have created a warm funky environment with oak tables, upside-down garbage cans for seats and have used recycled products to make the shop actually look like an old fashioned beach shack.
The Colemans are very busy with their young children who are the best promoters of their business as well as being involved in the community where John is coach for two soccer teams. Stir It Up will be participating in all of the Pine Avenue events including the Anna Maria Elementary School Fall Fest. They are also very happy to be able to provide part time jobs to their mostly young staff all of whom are Island residents, and appreciate all of their staff for helping to make their business a success.
Stir It Up is a fun place to indulge your sweet tooth and still feel like you did something good for your body whether you’re coming back from the beach or just enjoying all that Pine Avenue has to offer. Like the wall hanging at Stir It Up says, “Life Is Better When You’re Laughing,” so put a smile on your face at one of the Island’s new fun places.
STIR IT UP YOGURT SHACK
308-C Pine Ave., Anna Maria
11 a.m – 10 p.m.
Every day
941-251-4905
www.stiritupyogurtshack.com
All major credit cards
accepted