By MANDY THOMAS

ajt008@latech.edu

 

Despite rumors of closing, TCBY, located at 1100 Cooktown Rd., is still open and ready for business. The rumors began when there was talk of leasing TCBY to the Subway across the street.

Alex George, the new owner of TCBY, said the possibility of closing was simply because of problems for owners and managers being overloaded with too many TCBY locations in North Louisiana and East Texas.

George decided to take on the Ruston location, along with the TCBY in West Monroe.

“We are very upbeat about the changes,” George said.

“We are working on promotion and advertising, and we have a good crew that we are beefing up.”

George said the remaining stores have been divided up to different owners, a few being his daughter and son-in-law.

George said this will allow owners to better focus on a few stores, rather than being spread too thin. 

George said he and the TCBY crew have done several things recently to boost promotions, such as participating in the treat-tasting event at the Ruston Civic Center, passing out flyers and coupons at ball games and hosting birthday parties.

“Ruston is a good town; my family are big Tech fans, and I’m excited to see TCBY grow,” George said.

Mary Stevens, TCBY store manager, said she has been working for TCBY for almost 16 years and has been working at the Ruston TCBY since the middle of February this year.

Stevens said she enjoys working for George, and she thinks things are going great.

“I am excited about all the things.” George is going to do,” Stevens said.

Stevens also said the best part of her job is the customers and working with college students.