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Orange Leaf returns to Springfield

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Orange Leaf is back in business today after closing late last year in Springfield.

Jim Troye, who purchased the frozen yogurt franchise rights with his wife Amber, spoke to Springfield Business Journal this morning before the 11:30 a.m. launch at 1368 E. Republic Road. Troye said he and his wife also plan to reopen the Orange Leaf store at 1011 S. Glenstone Ave. in a few weeks.

“We painted all the walls and really cleaned everything up,” he said, pointing to brighter colors in line with Orange Leaf’s new store concept. “We’ll do the same thing over there.”

Troye said he paid a franchise fee to Orange Leaf corporate and acquired the stores from former franchisee Curt Bartell. He declined to disclose his investment. Orange Leaf charges a royalty of 5 percent and marketing fee of 2 percent, with an estimated initial investment of up to $313,200, according to its website.

The Republic Road location operates in 2,500 square feet in the Fremont Corners shopping center, with the Glenstone Avenue store located in 1,500 square feet at a multitenant building at the Grand Street intersection. The Republic Road property is owned by Joseph Bartell, and the Glenstone Avenue building is owned by Superior Properties Plus, care of Midwest Entertainment, according to Greene County assessor records.

“Both landlords were very nice people and very agreeable,” Troye said, declining to disclose lease terms. “They’re happy to have a tenant in there again.”

Troye said he would immediately focus on the two stores and a mobile unit before considering other locations in the market.

“Right now, I just want to wrap my hands around these,” he said.

Troye, who managed Springfield’s Barnes & Noble store for nearly 22 years, and his wife, a teacher at McBride Elementary School, heard about the opportunity to buy the Orange Leaf stores when Bartell announced their closures on Facebook.

The Troyes had been regulars at the Republic Road store when their son worked there last year.

“The place was always packed,” Jim Troye said. “My wife started following it on Facebook, of course. When we saw it was going to be up for sale, she saw the uproar.”

Bartell told SBJ in December 2018 he closed the two Orange Leaf stores and his Springfield Which Wich franchise, citing health care costs tallying up with debt in unrelated businesses he owns.

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seahsker@yahoo.com

I had noticed some temporary signs advertising that a Cubby's Cookie Dough was going in at both locations. What happenes there?

Thursday, March 14, 2019
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