By Katelyn Weisbrod
A 5-year-old birthday would not be complete without balloons and a juggler.
Local frozen yogurt shop Yotopia will celebrate its fifth anniversary today with a party outside the shop, 132 S. Clinton St., from 2 to 5 p.m.
The party includes giveaways, free samples, games, balloon animals, juggling, and more.
Yotopia owner Veronica Tessler said she built Yotopia from the ground up when she was 25 years old, with no business experience and a modest bank loan.
“Against many odds and overcoming many hurdles, we’ve made it five years, and that’s something in and of itself to celebrate,” Tessler said. “Being a woman-owned business and being an independent business, these are all challenges in the face of the national averages.”
Tessler, who sources all of her yogurt from Iowa dairy farms, said one of her personal values is giving back to the community. She also articulated her gratitude for the support the community has given her business over the last half-decade.
“[This event] is really a celebration of our customers,” she said. “We couldn’t do it without the support of the Iowa City and university community, which has been nothing short of amazing and supportive of my company.”