Franchising

16 Handles debuts prototype in Florida

Provided

June 19, 2023

New York City-based 16 Handles kicked off expansion outside its home market last month with an opening in Naples, Florida, featuring a design upgrade with modular topping bar. Its soft-serve machines save electricity and allow franchisees to offer a more consistent product with less labor, and the design highlights the brand's colors and signature slogan, "Choose Wildly, according to CEO Neil Hershman.

"We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of 16 Handles in Naples," he said in a company press release. "With so much expansion underway in Florida and elsewhere around the country, it is exciting to show our customers and franchisees our commitment to innovation. Our goal is to have many more successful store openings just like this one until we become the #1 soft serve and frozen yogurt chain nationwide, just like we already have in the Northeast."

The grand opening was May 13 and featured a meet-and-greet with co-owner and celebrity YouTube star Danny Duncan as well as Hershman.

16 Handles opened its first store in Manhattan's East Village in 2008 and has over 35 locations. Several stores are under construction in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas, South Carolina and other states.