Boston teens practice business skills with pop-up yogurt shop

DORCHESTER – A pop-up yogurt shop in Dorchester is teaching teens how to run their own business while supporting the community.

A pop-up yoghurt shop in Dorchester

You’ll find Saigon Swirl, which offers Asian-inspired frozen yogurt flavors for a limited time, in Dorchester’s Fields Corner. But what makes the shop special is who’s behind the counter.

“I thought it was great, especially that kids from Dorchester are running this store. It’s really neat,” said Nyarah Carter-Leary, manager of Saigon Swirl.

“We’re just trying to build students’ skills, and what better way to do that than through experience?” says Annie Le, director of Boston’s Little Saigon Cultural District.

Little Saigon is named after a city in Vietnam to reflect Dorchester’s diverse population. Profits from Saigon Swirl are used to fund youth programs that many Dorchester teens participate in.

How teenagers run the store

The teens make sure all the fruit for the toppings is cut, frozen yogurt is made, and customer service skills are practiced – all on their own. Saigon Swirl gives teens a glimpse into what it’s like to be an entrepreneur. And Carter-Leary learns what it means to be a manager.

“I make sure we are well supplied, that we have all the products we need, and that if something is missing, I go and get it. I create schedules for the employees,” she said.

People flocked to Dorchester Avenue to buy frozen yogurt and show their support.

“Sometimes they even tip double. … the love is incredible,” Carter-Leary said.

Saigon Swirl is open from 11am to 8pm until August 25th.