NILES — The downtown Niles business that has enticed customers across Michiana with frozen yogurt and more than 50 toppings is opening for the spring and summer season Monday, after a long winter hibernation.

Swirlyz Frozen Yogurt co-owners Tammy and Chad Gardner, of Niles, and Steve Estes, of Mishawaka, will open the businesses doors from 3 to 9 p.m. Monday. The business at 211 N. Front St. will be open 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday to Saturday.

More than 10 flavors of frozen yogurt, including two non-dairy sorbet flavors, will be available. Customers can build their own dessert by choosing from more than 50 toppings to add to their frozen yogurt, including hot fudge, strawberry cheesecake bites and fresh fruit. The cost is 50 cents per ounce.

New this season, customers can find tapioca boba balls as a topping and ice-cold boba tea to enjoy. The back patio will also be open for seating outside as the weather warms up.

Efforts to help their community, which was a business goal when Swirlyz opened, will also continue. Tammy said in the past, Swirlyz collected food for the Niles Salvation Army and made a number of charitable donations.

Since closing for the winter season, Tammy said she has received many messages from customers eager to return to Swirlyz. She said she looks forward to seeing those customers enjoying a frozen treat once again.

“It feels good to be open again,” Tammy said. “There are such wonderful people here.”

Swirlyz first opened in downtown Niles in July last year. Upwards of 300 to 400 people would visit the shop on the weekends, during peak summer season.

Both Tammy and Steve, who were available for an interview Thursday, said this response encouraged them to take the plunge and open a second location in New Buffalo. The additional Swirlyz, located at 122 N. Whittaker St., is targeted to open sometime in May.

The flavors of yogurt available at the new location will be the same and prices will be similar. Inside the new frozen yogurt shop, customers will find the design to be beach themed with nautical decorations adorning the walls.

Several additional employees have already been identified to help staff the businesses.

Tammy and Steve said the friends first became inspired to open their frozen yogurt shop last year. Estes is the former owner and founder of Let’s Spoon — a frozen yogurt shop in South Bend, which he later sold to other owners. With this business background and the downtown space available, the friends decided to restore a formerly vacant building into their dream.

The process was not an easy one. The 1,000-square-foot building at 211 N. Front St. had been sitting vacant for about 12 years. It took three months to transform the space into their signature business model. Today, hard wood and metal paneling give the frozen yogurt shop a rustic barn feel.

“We could not have picked a better location,” Estes said. “It is perfect with the park across the street.”

Looking back on their business success, Tammy and Steve said customer service, quality and cleanliness are the pillars that have helped to make Swirlyz a popular destination for people from as far as Chicago.

“The community has been awesome and we are excited for the 2018 season to start,” Estes said. “And we are really excited to get New Buffalo one open.”