Solomon Choi, who based New York Metropolis’s self-serve frozen yogurt idea 16 Handles in 2008, died on Friday at 44. No reason behind dying was listed in his obituary.
16 Handles grew to 40 areas internationally earlier than Choi offered the franchise in 2022 to its largest franchiser, Neil Hershman, in keeping with Restaurant Business Online.
“We’re deeply saddened by the surprising passing of 16 Handles’ founder and former CEO Solomon Choi,” Hershman mentioned in an announcement. “He was a visionary who got here to New York Metropolis in his 20s and based this iconic frozen dessert model. 16 Handles is the place I obtained my private begin in franchising and I owe a lot to Solomon for the alternatives, schooling, mentorship and friendship he offered me all through the years.”
“A part of the mission assertion for 16 Handles is to ‘create moments of happiness,’ and Solomon actually embodied this in his private {and professional} life, at all times sporting an enormous smile and optimistic outlook,” Hershman mentioned. “Our hearts exit to his household, associates and all those that beloved him and labored with him throughout this extremely troublesome time.”
Choi additionally based Greeno Merchandise, a provider of customized disposables for the meals service trade, and began Jabba Manufacturers in 2019 to advise, make investments and function meals service firms, in keeping with his obituary.
He was additionally an Angel Squad member at Hustle Fund, a enterprise capital agency that invests in early-stage startups.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Choi moved to the US and graduated from the College of Southern California’s Marshall Faculty of Enterprise in 2002.
He was born in Seoul, South Korea, and lived in Manhasset, New York, on the time of his dying.
Choi met his spouse, Hannah Chang Choi, in 2015 at a 16 Handles location on the Higher West Aspect, per the obituary.
Along with his spouse, Choi is survived by his 7-year-old and 4-year-old youngsters, his mother and father and two sisters.
He was scheduled to seem on a panel about the way forward for digital transformation within the limited-service phase, in keeping with his LinkedIn.
“Solomon’s legacy will stay on without end by means of the recollections of those that had the chance to know him and the affect that he had on numerous lives,” his obituary famous. “Solomon might be remembered for his relentless optimism, his self-discipline and fearlessness, and his Michael Jackson dance strikes. Most significantly, he was dedicated to loving his spouse and kids to the most effective of his potential and might be remembered because the world’s finest husband and daddy.”
