- Business has been booming at Humphrey Yogart in
Los Angeles sinceMeghan Markle 'sOprah interview. - Markle told Winfrey she worked her first job at the frozen-yogurt shop when she was 13 years old.
- A store spokesman told Insider they've seen "triple the amount of customers" since Markle's mention.
Business is booming at Humphrey Yogart, the Los Angeles frozen-yogurt shop where Meghan Markle worked her very first job at the age of 13.
The Duchess of Sussex gave her former employer a shout-out during her two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey, which was watched by more than 17 million Americans when it aired on Sunday night. Markle mentioned her early gig at the shop when talking about how she's "always worked [and] always valued independence."
And the Markle effect has certainly worked its magic on the froyo shop, which is nestled in a Gelson's grocery store in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood.
Sales have been booming at Humphrey Yogart since Markle's interview aired
Greg Rogers, a former Humphrey Yogart employee who now works as the shop's publicist, told Insider that there's been a "significant increase" in sales this week.
People were already waiting for the shop to open up on Monday after the interview aired.
"We've seen triple the amount of people that would normally come in during the week," he said. "And I'm thinking this weekend will see the bigger push just because more people have time to come out."
Markle has spoken in the past about her experience at the yogurt shop. She even met her
The former chain's Sherman Oaks location, which is not the one where Markle worked, is the only remaining Humphrey Yogart left. Rogers told Insider that the bigger crowd has been a mix of old customers rediscovering the yogurt shop and Markle fans.
"It's been a combination," he said. "A lot of people were old customers from the old locations that weren't aware there was still a Humphrey Yogart in operation. Others are coming to see it or take a photo or something."
And some things haven't changed since Markle's time working at the froyo spot - Rogers said Humphrey Yogart still uses the same power drill technique it did when Markle worked there in the 1990s.
"It's a drill that you drill into the frozen yogurt with whatever ingredients you want to make the flavor," he added.
Rogers said the store initially considered creating a flavor in honor of Markle and
He started researching the couple's favorite foods and discovered that Markle loves making a chocolate-chip banana cake, while Prince Harry likes peanut butter and jelly - so he decided to combine them.
But when Rogers and staff at the store actually watched the interview, in which Markle and Prince Harry discuss everything from suicide to racism, they scrapped the idea.
"I thought it would be a little sleazy to take advantage of it and make light of it," he said. "Now at this point we're not going to post [the new flavor] at the store, but if people come in and ask for it we'll make it."