The food industry is mourning the loss of a visionary.
Solomon Choi, who founded the frozen yogurt chain 16 Handles, died June 7, the company’s current owner and CEO confirmed. He was 44.
“He was a visionary who came to New York City in his 20s and founded this iconic frozen dessert brand,” Neil Hershman, who acquired the company from Choi in 2022, said in a statement to Restaurant Business Online. “16 Handles is where I got my personal start in franchising and I owe so much to Solomon for the opportunities, education, mentorship and friendship he provided me throughout the years.”
“Part of the mission statement for 16 Handles is to ‘create moments of happiness,'” Hershman continued. “Solomon truly embodied this in his personal and professional life, always sporting a big smile and optimistic outlook.”
Choi, whose cause of death was not publicly shared, is survived by his wife Hanna Chang-Choi and their two children Jubilee and Joshua.
