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Naticakes' sweet dream
Photo
Tiffany Polish and her son, Logan, 4, enjoy a treat at Naticakes.
By KALEA HALLl
khall@vindy.com
AUSTINTOWN
Nicole Sloane’s dream came true when the frozen yogurt and sweet shop franchise she started in memory of her niece opened in Austintown.
“It was really a dream of mine to see something so personal to me back in my [neighborhood],” said Sloane, a Canfield native who now lives in Kentucky.
Mike Kerensky opened the third, national Naticakes in late December, and so far the
frozen yogurt shop offering multiple flavors and 55 toppings has done well.
“Every person that comes in, I want them to know they are important,” Kerensky said. “I want it to be real. I want it to be something like a joint — it’s a place to be.”
Kerensky is a teacher at Canfield Middle School, and a tax guy, so frozen yogurt was not really his industry until he heard about Naticakes from his friend, Sloane, at the Canfield Fair. He persuaded her to consider Austintown for a Naticakes location.
The building at 5549 Mahoning Ave. in the Weston Center Plaza was vacant for some time, until Kerensky took it over.
“I didn’t want to see it go away, so I jumped on it,” Kerensky said.
Naticakes came with a catchy mission statement, “making life a little sweeter” and a shabby-chic, New Englan-style design. But behind it all is the story of a little girl called “Naticakes” who unexpectedly died at a young age. The Natalie Wynn Foundation was created in her honor and her aunt, Sloane, decided to start a frozen yogurt and cupcake shop to help generate funds for the foundation.
“I was close to my niece and I wanted to do something to honor her,” Sloane said.
Natalie was nicknamed “Naticakes” for her love of sweets, so naturally, it was the perfect fit for the name of the franchise.
With the franchise agreement, Kerensky must give 1 percent of his profits to the foundation. So far, the foundation has built playgrounds with its funding. Additionally, any money into the donation jar goes to a local charity that Kerensky chooses.
“I will probably do more,” he said. “I like to help people.”
The yogurt shop also has a “pay it forward” board so customers can come in and “pay it forward” for a friend’s yogurt treat.
“It has already been an enormous success,” Sloane said. “They really live out the mission statement.”
The shop offers the traditional flavors of vanilla and chocolate and then throws in other favorite flavors, including salted pretzel and cake batter. Two nondairy and sorbet flavors always are available.
“Our product is all of this,” Kerensky said, referring to the shop’s atmosphere. “It’s just fun.”
To learn more about Naticakes and for special offers, find it on Facebook at Naticakes Austintown.