Talk about culture wars: The Yale press has gone all swirly over reports that the forthcoming frozen yogurt shop on York Shop, Flavors, has been accused of stealing design concepts from Froyo over on York Street. Froyo’s co-owner Derek Bok says he was “disheartened” to have learned that Flavors’ proprietors were old friends of his, and called their new business “betrayal.” Amusingly, considering the bad feelings, one of the things Flavor is accused of lifting from Froyo is its logo: a smiley face.
I find Froyo’s unsmiley sensitivity here appalling. Froyo’s moved in on the very block where an older frozen yogurt store had been established for years. Now in the Yale Daily News Bok is bitching about Flavors opening “literally in our backyard”—actually several blocks away, a whole separate shopping district in downtown terms, whereas the Liberry which Froyo stomped out of business could be seen through Froyo’s window.
Now it wants to compete in an open marketplace by browbeating other upstarts, accusing them of betrayal, theft and more? You’re a fair-weather product, Froyo, and apparently a fair-weather friend. Keep your cool.