---
title: "16 Handles"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/2e2f5dfb-e5f3-457a-96a3-95e8a3fb4be7
source: "Restaurant Business"
original_url: https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/future-50-2026/16-handles
category: "Snacks & dessert"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Snacks & dessert"
published: 2026-10-29T10:30:53.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:43:30.927Z
image: https://cdn.informaconnect.com/platform/files/public/16_Handles_1793269863.jpeg?VersionId=qdTnxM6Gli2xOHdFeVTdOZTGOxZMXEhC
---

# 16 Handles

**TL;DR:** 16 Handles, a self-serve frozen yogurt chain founded in 2008 by Solomon Choi, has survived the category slump and is now expanding with new locations in Arizona and California. The chain was bought by Neil Hershman in 2022, with additional investment from Danny Duncan.

*originally published in Restaurant Business on 2026-10-29. [Read the original](https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/future-50-2026/16-handles).*

## Story

This self-serve frozen yogurt chain, founded in 2008 by Solomon Choi in New York City's East Village, survived the category slump that started in the mid-2010s, continued through the pandemic, and is now riding an expansion wave, with new locations in Arizona and California. It's named for the 16 rotating flavors that it offers at each shop. In 2022 it was bought by New York entrepreneur Neil Hershman, formerly its largest franchisee and now the CEO, with additional investment from YouTube personality Danny Duncan, who is its chief creative officer and opened a location in his hometown of Englewood, Florida.

There's one other 16 Handles in Florida, in Boca Raton, and the chain also operates in the New York suburbs, South Carolina, and Texas.

## Entities

- QSR (sector)
- Florida (location)
- new york (location)
- California (location)
- Restaurant Business (publication)
- Arizona (location)
- frozen yogurt (topic)
- Boca Raton, Florida (location)
- 16 Handles (company)
- Neil Hershman (person)
- franchisee investment (topic)
- chain expansion (topic)

---
Originally reported by Restaurant Business (https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/future-50-2026/16-handles). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/2e2f5dfb-e5f3-457a-96a3-95e8a3fb4be7).