Leander Scoop sat down with Rebecca Darling, owner of The Yogurt Experience, to talk about her journey as a business owner, overcoming challenges, and why Liberty Hill was the perfect spot for her second location.
Leander Scoop: For those who don’t know, tell us a little bit about The Yogurt Experience and how you got involved.
Rebecca Darling: The Yogurt Experience first opened in Round Rock back in 2009 by a brother-and-sister team. At the time, frozen yogurt was booming, and they launched as an all-tart concept inspired by California shops. The market in Round Rock wanted more variety, so they quickly adapted into a traditional self-serve yogurt shop and managed to thrive while many others came and went.
By 2018, they were ready to move on, and I happened to be looking for a brick-and-mortar business. My background wasn’t in food service—I spent 15 years in pharmaceutical sales with Pfizer and later worked as a travel writer. I also started Round the Rock, a hyperlocal website highlighting family activities and events. When the shop went up for sale, I jumped in—without really knowing what I was getting into.
I’ll never forget my first solo day running the shop. I went home and cried in my closet for an hour, wondering what I’d done. But I stuck it out.
Leander Scoop: What were those early years like?
Rebecca: Challenging, to say the least. In 2019 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through chemo while trying to learn the business. Then in 2020, the pandemic hit and I had to close the shop for 12 weeks—still paying rent the entire time. I was ready to give up.
The turning point came when I hired a business coach. She taught me the difference between working in the business and working on the business. I learned to hire great people for things I wasn’t good at, like training, managing staff, and marketing. That shift has allowed us to grow every year since.
Leander Scoop: And now you’ve opened a second location in Liberty Hill. Why there?
Rebecca: My family moved out toward Burnet a few years ago, and we drove through Liberty Hill all the time. Every Friday night, Dairy Queen would have a line of 30 cars waiting for ice cream. My husband and I kept saying, “There’s nothing here on 29.”
By early 2024, we decided to pull the trigger. We built out a brand-new space and opened on the last day of school in May. Liberty Hill has embraced us with open arms, and it’s been a fantastic summer.
Leander Scoop: What makes The Yogurt Experience different from other frozen yogurt shops?
Rebecca: Two things. First, we’re not purely self-serve anymore. During the pandemic we put up a glass barrier and moved to a “Subway-style” service. Customers still fill their yogurt cup themselves, but our staff helps with toppings. Parents especially appreciate how much cleaner it feels.
Second, we focus on creating a place where families make memories. We keep board and card games on the tables, host trivia nights, and run $5 Fill-Your-Cup Mondays so it’s affordable for everyone. I wanted a shop where parents put their phones down and laugh with their kids.
Leander Scoop: You mentioned Spirit Nights. Can you share how those work?
Rebecca: Absolutely. Any group—PTAs, booster clubs, sports teams, even families raising money for a cause—can host a Spirit Night with us. They bring their community in, and we donate 20% of the day’s sales back. It’s a great way to support local groups and also introduce new people to the shop.
In Liberty Hill, Spirit Nights have been some of the biggest we’ve ever hosted. We also tied our $5 Fill-Your-Cup Mondays to flood relief this summer, donating 20% back for two weeks. The community response was incredible.
Leander Scoop: You went through the thick of COVID as a brick-and-mortar business. How bad was it?
Rebecca: It was terrifying. We shut down for 12 weeks completely—our yogurt machines had never been turned off before. Rent was still due. We reopened with curbside pickup, just two machines running, and my daughter helping me deliver cups of yogurt with pre-packaged toppings out to people’s cars.
The community really supported us, and we slowly rebuilt from there. But I know many shops and restaurants that never came back. Looking back, I’m just thankful we made it through.
Leander Scoop: What’s next for The Yogurt Experience?
Rebecca: Right now, we’re experimenting with staying open after Liberty Hill football games, since the whole town rallies around them. Long-term, I’d love to franchise. Our concept is simple, but it’s different enough to stand out.
On a personal level, my husband and I are planning more travel now that our kids are older. My business coach always challenges me to dream big, so I keep writing down new goals—both for the shop and for life.
Leander Scoop: How can the community best support you?
Rebecca: Of course we’d love people to come in for yogurt. But one of the biggest things people can do is leave a Google review or share their experience online. Positive reviews and word-of-mouth make a huge difference—especially for small businesses.
👉 The Yogurt Experience now has two locations: in Round Rock and Liberty Hill. Stop by for a sweet treat, bring your family for games, or plan to join a Spirit Night in support of a local cause.
