Froot has built its place in the Wyndmoor community by pairing fresh, customizable food with a welcoming atmosphere and a distinctly local approach. Since opening in June 2023 at 909 Willow Grove Avenue, the independent, women-owned cafe has developed a loyal following for its acai and grain bowls, smoothies, salads, and other made-to-order offerings.
Susan McGoldrick founded Froot, a new venture for her after an extensive background in interior design. Hayley Dennis initially joined the cafe as general manager when it opened, but has since become McGoldrick’s business partner.
“Together, we bring a complementary set of experiences, perspectives, and strengths to Froot and we share a mutual goal of creating a welcoming environment, providing quality food, and being hands-on in the cafe,” the owners told What Now in an exclusive interview. “We believed the Froot concept would complement the main street businesses and thought it would be a great addition to the neighborhood,” they shared.
The inspiration for the concept came as they watched a big boom in commercial businesses locally, and saw an opportunity to contribute to the community by providing a place for customizable meals.
Its menu focuses on fresh, flavorful options that customers can enjoy throughout the morning and day. Recipes are created in-house through a collaborative effort among its team, and they value feedback from patrons, constantly evolving the menu.
Customers can customize nearly every menu item through build-your-own options, allowing them to tailor meals to their preferences. Among the cafe’s customer favorites are its acai bowls, and its Niner and Romeo wraps are a top-ordered lunch item.
“We’ve been fortunate to build a loyal customer base and appreciate the relationships we’ve built with local families, schools, and organizations,” the owners said. “Honestly, having the number of regulars we see each week, and the relationships we’ve developed with our regulars, speaks volumes. Seeing their faces, following their posts, and hearing their positive feedback makes it all worthwhile.”
McGoldrick and Dennis are also proud that their venture has created lasting employment opportunities. They have maintained the same weekday staff since debuting, and many employees on the weekend shift are young community residents.
That sentiment even extends to themselves. The two are grateful for the chance to have a company of their own.
“Surviving and thriving as a local, family-run business has been a big accomplishment. However, I think the most significant milestone for Froot is being owned, operated, and controlled by women.”
Looking ahead to the future, additional locations are also a possibility. The owners receive customer suggestions to expand to other nearby areas, but want to make sure they do it the correct way.
“We are open to and are evaluating those opportunities — so long as in doing so, we don’t compromise the standard we’ve established at the Wyndmoor location over the last 3-and-a-half years,” they explained.
