Community Highlights: Meet Breon Williams of YoBreZ Frozen Dessert Bar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Breon Williams.

Hi Breon, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Breon Williams, originally from Virginia Beach, VA, currently residing in Jacksonville, NC. I’m a young inspiring entrepreneur, Founder, co-owner of YoBreZ Frozen Dessert Bar, along the side of my business partner, Stacy Welsh.

YoBreZ, opened its first location in Jacksonville, NC in April 2018. Our name was created by my mom Kisha Curry, which means Yo, Breon! Stacy and I met at the very first shop that I owned (Brrrberry Frozen Yogurt), where she worked with me on marketing and branding for about a year. Life took a left turn, and we started all the way back over, with rebranding, renaming, etc.

That’s when, I took a step of faith and ask Stacy to be my business partner, and she agreed and came aboard. She didn’t know much about the industry but learned along the way.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Sometimes, I wish I could have received a blueprint of the business, before making a decision, but it was nothing but the grace of God who got us here today.

Their common sayings you won’t see your return investment until about 3-5 years in, well I definitely found that to be true. It became very challenging to see the good in business, because of what I seen on paper. In our first two years, I learned a lot about myself and business.

Being a dessert shop could be seasonal, our vision wasn’t seasonal, but it became very challenging to meet budgets, we exhausted all funds to keep the doors open, we had to make many cuts, including our employees, and it still felt like it wasn’t enough. But we didn’t give up, I found myself working 7 days a week open to closed over 60 hours everyday until I literally ended up sick, lost weight, became stressed, but I still had hoped to see my business succeed. I begin to question so much, even God.

Why? What am I doing wrong? But it seems like God allows us to go through so much to test our trust and faith because even though we barely kept our doors open, we still SHOWED UP! It takes a different type of faith to still show up even if you don’t see the results you want.

We entered year 3 of business COVID hits, now we can’t serve inside our building, no longer dining in, we became innovative and became the old school dessert shop, brought menus outside, took orders, and went back inside to made. That’s when God proved to us if we can trust Him, He will make our name great. And God successfully triple our sales during a pandemic.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about YoBreZ Frozen Dessert Bar?
YoBreZ Frozen Dessert Bar is a full servicing one-stop-shop dessert bar. We serve 150 flavors total but we keep about 70 flavors in-house that rotate throughout the year. We currently have two locations, Jacksonville, NC and Maysville, NC, and a potential third coming to Surf City, NC.

We are not the typical simple frozen yogurt and ice cream shop, we are a FUN, COOL, and CREATIVE ice cream shop. We have something for everyone, Non-Dairy, Sugar-Free, Pup Cups, and a wide selection of our regular ice cream. We have cups, cones, ice cream sandwiches, STACO taco, bubble waffles, milkshakes, floats, banana splits, and famous “Freakshakes.”

What sets us apart is the creativity, we are known for our Freakshakes, STACO Taco, and our bubble waffle creations. Our guests always look forward to our new and fun creations.

Nevertheless, the best part of my job is, I get to be creative and put smiles on many people’s faces, dessert is another form of therapy and you never know how YOU can be the outcome of someone’s day. I’m proud to see my business giving back to our community, it’s the greatest feeling in the world. We have been and currently still able to partner with other local small businesses to help accomplish our #CommunityFirst mission every year.

Annually we host different events throughout the year, such as, Food Trunk Rodeo, National Ice Cream Day Fest, 500 Bookbag Giveaway, Trunk n Treat, Veterans eat FREE, Ice Cream with Santa, Christmas Parties, we host birthday parties, etc. It definitely keeps us very busy, but we enjoy it.

What matters most to you? Why?
My relationship with Jesus Christ, for many reasons. Having a relationship with Him has been the importance of my business. Nothing that we do is possible without his love, strength, and guidance.

I want our customers to feel Christ love every time they’re visiting us, I want them to be encouraged, I want them to walk in one way but leaving much better, and only how that’s possible, we must have a relationship with Jesus Christ, and prayer life. Prayer is very essential to any relationship with God.

The deeper the relationship the deeper the success.

Pricing:

• Cups $3.75-$8.29
• STACO Taco $6.89
• Bubble Waffle $11:29
• Freakshakes $12.89

Contact Info:

• Email: Breon@yobrezdessert.com
• Instagram: @yobrezdessert
• Facebook: Www.Facebook.com/yobrezdessert