Humphrey Yogart Departs From Sherman Oaks After 32 Years

You may have thought that frozen yogurt was a passing fad that came (and went) in the early 2000’s, but the Valley’s very own Humphrey Yogart would beg to differ. The cheekily-named Sherman Oaks shop has been at it for 32 years, selling frozen yogurt alongside espressos, panini sandwiches, and more. And now that may all change, as a lease disagreement has the company considering closing down for good.

In a post to the company’s Facebook page, co-owner Jim Sheftel (along with his wife Paula) noted that the Van Nuys Boulevard eatery would be closing in just a couple of weeks, after "failing to come to agreeable terms" with their new landlord. The outpouring of grief from 30 years of regulars was predictably intense, as the Sheftel’s moved to organize past employees together for one final reunion at the shop before closing their doors permanently and diehards dropped in for one final pint of pre-packed frozen yogurt.

Except, well, maybe not. Citing an "unbelievable outpouring of love and sadness," ownership seems to have potentially reversed course, and are instead looking for alternative places to land their beloved shop. There’s even talk of a crowdfunding campaign to help raise the necessary funds for a new build-out somewhere else, and as of Sunday ownership said they’d been approached about a possible space in North Hollywood.

Regardless, the Sheftel family must be out of their storefront space in Sherman Oaks by the end of the month, which means Saturday, March 26 will be the final day of service at that location. There may eventually be another space in the works down the line somewhere, but it seems that the yogurt company’s three-decade Valley tenure will at the very least be interrupted, if not ultimately gone forever.