Chain restaurants and companies that make mass-produced items have captivated Americans. Even when the economy hinders many small stores from flourishing, Memphis is home to dozens of businesses with products grown just down the road and employees who love to serve the community. Two of these stand out as a favorite for Memphians: YoLos, with a location in Collierville and East Memphis and Muddy's Bake Shop, in Memphis off White Station Rd.
YoLo’s frozen yogurt looks a lot like another frozen yogurt place less than a block away. It is self-serve goodness where you can top off your yogurt with everything from Fruit Loops to granola to mango slices. Many of the toppings come from local farmers and bakeries, and customers taste the difference; it stays packed almost every day of the week.
"Everything is better quality," said Sarah Moske, kindergarten teacher and owner of Monkey Bread Bakery. "I use real butter, real vanilla, real ingredients."
Monkey Bread Bakery provides several sweet treats for YoLo. YoLo uses small bakeries' brownies, blondies, cookies and cheesecake bites in their topping bar. Moske, a Germantown alumna, started her baking two and a half years ago and is glad to have the support of YoLo.
"We help each other out," Moske said. "They are really good about highlighting local companies."
Kip Gordon, Vice President of Operations at Muddy’s Bake Shop in East Memphis, is also an advocate for handmade desserts with face-to-face, personable service. Muddy’s began in 2008 during an economic nightmare, but the little business has grown exponentially, and it now sees over 500 customers a day. Gordon credits it to customer service and, simply, to good cupcakes and pies.
"When we first started, we honestly expected that there would be no business," said Gordon. "Now, I think people are looking for quality and the sense that they (the employees) care about you."
Something is undeniably different about a Muddy’s cupcake. It is richer than the average grocery store dessert, and there is an allure to the idea of it being specially crafted. Looking into the cupcake case, each one is a little different. Similarly, the furniture in the store is mostly from second-hand stores or from the owner’s house. Floral print cushioned chairs sit next to old whitewashed wooden chairs around tables that the owner painted himself, reinforcing the idea of a unique product.
"I think there is a regression back to handmade products," Gordon said. "There is a growing appeal to community business."
Moske has been absolutely swamped with business also; she is running the show all on her own, balancing a full time job while using a church oven to bake her treats on the side. With her own busy schedule, she understands why people sometimes choose the chain stores.
"It’s hard sometimes to compete with the chains because they are cheap and convenient," Moske said. "I don’t have a storefront, and people are not use to making orders before the weekend of their event."
Gordon also understands the appeal of chains but stresses the impact local businesses have on the community while big companies suck up funds that do not benefit the Memphis area.
"There is the Chili’s mentality where you walk in, and you never know who is working there. Here, people walk in and we know the regulars and they know us," Gordon said. "When people support local business, the money stays in the community."
Every month, Muddy’s chooses a charity from a list that the public nominates, and instead of tips, customers put money in a collection jar. This month, they are raising money to give Christmas presents to a needy family. Although there is no monetary incentive for the staff to treat customers with a smile and warm greeting, they do it, to each and every person who enters.
Like Yolo's, Muddy's also supports local companies, and they love to suggest the natural products to their customers.
"We sell local honey, granola and grits," Gordon said.
They also sell Muddy's apparel, including bright blue t-shirts with all the benefits of eating at their store, like no preservative or artificial flavors, handmade pie dough, and of course, real big smiles.
"I’ll have a Plain Jane cupcake," one young customer said, pointing at a row of pink and blue and white cupcakes.
"Which color?" asked the lady behind the counter.
"The one with the most icing," the girl said back.
The customer and employee then looked around the tray until, satisfied, the woman behind the counter held up a pink one exploding with frosting.
These personal interactions, coupled with a yummy product, keep Muddy’s afloat.
The sign on the exit door of Yolo and Muddy’s reads ‘Thank you for supporting locally owned independent businesses." These businesses are the ones like Moske’s and Gordon’s. These locals are doing something they enjoy and creating a tasty product without cutting corners when it comes to ingredients, relying on the community to choose their bakery.
As the stickers on a wall in Muddy’s say, "Break the chain.