There was a time—not that long ago—when a sweet tooth in Great Neck had many choices and some pretty iconic destinations.
Bruce’s, Benkerts, Carvel and others are a reminder that Great Neck has always fancied sweets. In a way, they were the bridge between the old-school bakery tradition and the later Fro-Yo and bubble tea hangouts that followed.
Good ‘Ol Fro- YoBefore the proliferation of lash places, Great Neck often had three or four yogurt places within a few blocks—After dinnertime, young kids, teenagers and families wandered down Middle Neck Road, in Great Neck Plaza, trolling for desserts. Where were they headed from 2000 to 2015? 16 Handles, 32° Frozen Yogurt Lounge, Tasti D-Lite, TCBY, Pinkberry and Yogurteria.
At 16 Handles and 32° Frozen Yogurt Lounge in particular, the self-serve ritual was part of the fun. Customers could customize their own desserts and pay by weight. You grabbed a cup, pulled a lever on one of the flavors, and built a masterpiece at the toppings bar.
Frozen yogurt shops served a specific social function. They were casual, inexpensive, and open late enough to become default meeting spots. High school students could walk there after tutoring or sports practice. Families could stop in after dinner without committing to a full meal at a restaurant.
Adults finishing a meal in town could wander over for something cheap and sweet. Unlike bakeries, which often close early, or sit-down dessert cafés that require a table and a check, Fro-Yo places hit a perfect middle ground. Good times.
For years, these places were the unofficial hangouts, adding to the hometown experience. Now they are long gone, and aside from the several boba shops, shout out to longstanding Mr. Wish and Yaaas Tea, Great Neck is a dessert desert.Honorable Mention Alert- the halva ice cream at Lola’s Restaurant, and Rothchild’s Kitchen. They are both absolutely sublime.
While new eateries continue to open on the peninsula, bringing fresh energy to our town, the specific niche once filled by frozen yogurt— customizable, quick, casual, open late—remains largely unclaimed. And with those closures, Great Neck quietly lost something way more important than frozen yogurt. We lost our late-afternoon and late-night gathering places.
Which raises a simple question: Why not bring fro-yo back, dear entrepreneur? Great Neck still has the ingredients that made dessert places thrive: students, families, and a community that loves to linger over something sweet after dinner. The machines may be gone, but the craving is still very much here, especially if you add some extra protein. Ask anyone, looking for a simple snack.
It is no secret that Great Neck Plaza goes quiet after dinner, because our retail sector closes early. Even most of our restaurants shutter by 8:30/ 9 pm, with their kitchens closing even earlier.
Source: LI Press
