Surfin’ Spoon Rides Crest of Good Taste to Success

By Marsha Bacenko – 

The seal of approval on hot July day.

An artist and a professional surfer decide to open a frozen yogurt shop. In the Outer Banks, where out of the box entrepreneurship is the norm, this merging of profession and business makes perfect sense. And it was out of this mindset that Jesse and Whitney Hines’ dream, the Surfin’ Spoon, was born.

This is one funky little place. Inviting, bright and airy with sunshine and ocean breezes streaming through the many windows, as soon as you walk in the door it feels like Outer Banks to the core—a place to hang out . . . to chill out.

Bar and conversation pit.

In the middle of the light wood paneled room, there’s a conversation pit, with comfortable high backed benches, ideal for larger groups. A wide counter connects the pit with two dozen padded stools so that everyone can interact with everyone else. As an ode to Jesse’s career, surf movies play on the flat screen TV, and surf boards act as ceiling decorations. On the other side of the room are wrought iron tables for duos and foursomes. There’s also a little kid’s table – think tea time when you were four. And for the big kids, there’s a separate game room with foosball and pinball machines.

This is how it works. It’s all self serve, so grab a cup and work your way down the row of frozen yogurt flavors, from espresso (it was yummy), to “get pitted” peach (that was yummy, too—editor), on to “cray cray coconut”, cake batter, and “shreddin’ strawberry”, to name a few. The basic favorites stay put, but new flavors are rotated frequently. Whitney pointed out they also offer non-sugar yogurt (for diabetics), and sorbet for vegans (no eggs). Then on to the toppings. Pile on the fresh fruit, including mango, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and kiwi. Then move on to the dried toppings which start sedately with classics like coconut, nuts or granola, and then get pretty intriguing – gummi bears, and chopped butterfingers, anyone?

The Hines’ are pretty passionate, and very enthusiastic, about their vision for the Surfin’ Spoon. “We want a welcoming place where people can hang out, and meet up with friends – families, teenagers. That’s why we also have wifi, and a game room. We want to serve healthy food, in a friendly environment, for people of all ages. We want to talk to people!” Whitney said.