Yogurt Palace celebrating 30 years!

Thirty years ago John and Jessie opened a little place in downtown Fallbrook called The Yogurt Palace. They served three flavors of yogurt: chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. It was so good that people just kept coming back. Now, thirty years later, owners Cynthia Avina and her husband Henry are serving those same three flavors plus about twenty more. John and Jessie frequent the shop two days a week and Cynthia enjoys their company. “They are like my parents -- I love them,” she said.

Cynthia’s younger sister, Sherene Pierce has worked alongside her officially for five years, but as Cynthia explained, “I remember Sherene coming in and wiping tables when she was nine years old, she loved being in here -- she grew up in here.” Cynthia herself has worked at the Palace for eighteen years, and has owned it for six. She started at age sixteen working during her summer break.

The Palace serves non-fat yogurt which contains eighteen calories an ounce and zero fat grams. “Yogurt is good for you,” said Cynthia, “it is much better to give your child a yogurt than ice cream.” There are about twenty-five flavors of yogurt and thirty choices for toppings. Different flavors are highlighted throughout the week. Wednesday is peanut butter day, which is one of the top flavors. Vanilla and chocolate are available every day.

Want a quick, but healthful lunch? Chicken Salad and Tuna Salad sandwiches are offered with the Chicken Salad sandwich taking the honors as the top seller. It’s no wonder that the sandwich is popular; it’s served between two delicious slices of poppy seed bread and piled high with chicken salad, sprouts and iceberg lettuce. Cynthia cooks the chicken breast in the crockpot overnight, and then shreds it in the morning. It is always fresh! Steaming hot dogs are also on hand for a quick snack.

Cynthia and Sherene have a great time working at the Palace because they both love their customers. “Pretty much everyone who walks through the door is a regular,” said Cynthia. “We’ve seen so many kids grow up here. I remember babies who are now 18 years old.”

Two women who have been frequenting the local establishment for years are Carol Link and Pat Speliopoulos. Pat has been a loyal customer since the Yogurt Palace opened thirty years ago. “I love the people who run it and the yogurt is delicious,” she said.

Carol has been eating their yogurt for almost as long -- twenty-five years. “I don’t have a favorite flavor – I always change because they are all good,” she said. The cheery atmosphere and great yogurt keep her coming back.

To celebrate The Yogurt Palace’s 30th anniversary and to thank their customers, Cynthia and Sherene will be serving a free junior yogurt to each customer all day on May 10. The Yogurt Palace is located at 130 South Main in Fallbrook. According to the Fallbrook Historical Society, the building was constructed in 1907. For several years, beginning in 1920 and continuing through 1940, the structure housed Fallbrook’s telephone company switchboard, which was operated by the Bailey family.