Zinga! Local College Student Opens Up FroYo Shop

Mario Pallotta is not even out of college yet, but he already owns and operates his own business in Peabody, and he has plans for a second location.

Pallotta, a 2009 graduate of Malden Catholic High School, is working on finishing up his business management degree in the spring of 2014 and just opened a frozen yogurt shop in South Peabody last week.

Zinga! Peabody opened its doors at Newhall Crossing March 11 with a grand opening this past weekend after about four months of interior construction. Zinga!, much like Orange Leaf and Pinkberry, is a rapidly expanding nationwide chain of franchises offering a "healthy alternative to ice cream."

The Peabody store at 139 Lynnfield St. is actually the newest franchise for Zinga! this year, according to a press release. There are five stores now in Massachusetts, including nearby in Saugus, Reading and North Andover.

“I’m excited about opening the newest Zinga store in the country,” Pallotta said. “I embrace the entrepreneurial spirit that was instilled in me at an early age by both my father and grandfather. I look forward to bringing this fun and healthful dessert offering to the city and am already planning a second store.”

According to the press release, Pallotta is already following up on past charitable efforts and sponsoring two local Little League teams as well as an annual scholarship at Malden Catholic in memory of his father, Kenneth “Kenny Bear” Pallotta, who lived in Peabody until his death in 2009.

The shop offers numerous rotating flavors of frozen yogurt, such as Dreamy Dark Chocolate and South Seas Vanilla, along with more than 50 toppings. It's all self-serve and the company claims this is the "World's Best Frozen Yogurt."

Readers will have to judge that for themselves.

Store hours are 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

You can follow updates from the local shop via Twitter and Facebook.