A new frozen Greek yogurt shop is bringing a Mediterranean-inspired experience to the University of Arizona neighborhood, with premium ingredients and a high-end aesthetic meant to set it apart from typical dessert stops.

Santorino Greek Frozen Yogurt opened Monday, June 1 at 800 E. University Blvd. It aims to offer a healthier dessert alternative to the area.

"We felt there was space for a dessert concept that was elevated, health conscious and community oriented. Traditional frozen yogurt shops often focus on quantity and customization, but we wanted to focus on craftsmanship, ingredient quality, and experience," said Project Manager Jose Esperon. "We were also inspired by Mediterranean culture and the idea of slowing down, gathering with people, and creating memorable experiences around food."

Esperon, who is from Mexico City, recently moved to Tucson to work on the family-owned business full time.

"There's a lot of frozen yogurt out there, where everything has the same concept, and usually the toppings are like gummies. We wanted something more high-end that's not here," Esperon said.

Greek frozen yogurt has a richer, creamier texture and contains more protein than traditional frozen yogurt.

"Compared to ice cream or gelato, it feels lighter and cleaner while still being incredibly satisfying," Esperon said. "Our approach also focuses heavily on premium ingredients and authentic flavor profiles rather than overly artificial sweetness."

Santorino imports its yogurt base from Europe and prepares everything in the shop under the direction of Chef Elvis Lazo.

Esperon expects the Greek yogurt base with caramel drizzle and granola to be a best-seller, but Santorino also offers elevated toppings including edible flowers, pistachio sauce, matcha and chocolate nibs, a combination Esperon said evokes the viral Dubai chocolate trend.

Esperon's personal favorite is olive sea salt yogurt paired with pistachio matcha crumble.

Santorino will also be offering other food options.

"We are planning to have crepes and cones made with protein so the students could come and have almost a full breakfast," Esperon said. "That should come in a couple weeks."

Inside, guests can expect a high-end experience from the moment they walk through the door. The shop's blue-and-white aesthetic, accented with wood, is designed to evoke a stroll through Santorini, Greece.

Employees wear bright, modernized uniforms inspired by traditional Greek taverna clothing. Even the ceramic bowls holding the toppings are either handmade or sourced from Ralph Lauren.

The family went through several concepts before opening, with Santorino's sign appearing on University Boulevard as early as last year, drawing curiosity from neighbors and students long before the doors opened.

"This concept has been in development for quite some time, years in fact. A lot of care went into refining the branding, recipes, sourcing, design, and overall customer experience before opening," Esperon said. "We wanted every detail to feel intentional and elevated, which is why the process took time. Seeing the community notice our posters and social content and become excited before opening has been incredibly rewarding for us."

Esperon envisions deep student involvement in the brand, wanting the shop to "be a place where students can come during the day, meet friends at night, or stop in after dinner for dessert," with students serving as a core part of Santorino's identity.

"Being part of the university community is something we are very excited about. We would love to collaborate with student organizations, campus events, philanthropy events, and local creatives," Esperon said. "Santorino was built to be community oriented, and we want students and the Tucson community to feel like this is their space as much as ours."

To help build that presence, Marketing Manager Kaia del Carpio, a UA student, has been building Santorino's social media audience since the spring, cultivating the brand's elevated, luxury feel.

"We also felt students would really connect with the concept because it offers something different from the typical quick dessert stop. We're more elevated and offer (customers) an opportunity to truly be present and enjoy the experience," Esperon said. "The beauty of Santorino is that customers can come back time and time again and try new combinations each time. The customizable experience allows customers the freedom to create unique and exciting flavor combinations each time."

Santorino will also be selling branded merchandise, including embroidered totes and hats.

Santorino is open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., though hours are subject to change.

Santorino celebrated its soft opening Monday, with its official grand opening planned for August, when students return to campus.

For more information and to keep up with the shop, visit Santorino’s Instagram page or website.

Macy Hernandez is Tucson Spotlight's social media manager and a journalism and business administration major at the University of Arizona. Contact her at macyhernandez@arizona.edu.

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