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Who owns Humphrey Yogart? Meghan Markle got her first job at 13 at this quaint café run by an adorable couple

Meghan's mention of the Los Angeles cafe in her Oprah Winfrey interview has people talking... Here's the story behind it

Meghan Markle and Harry's interview with Oprah dropped a lot of surprising bombshells. From claims of racism to cover up, there was a lot to infuriate the Internet. Thankfully, we also got a lighter moment with Humphrey Yogart. The throwaway line didn't make as much noise, but it is still very newsworthy. The Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles-based cafe, is one of the few bright spots to come out of the controversial tell-all. 

Speaking about the value of working, Meghan mentioned, "My first job was when I was 13, at a frozen yogurt shop called Humphrey Yogart." Nearing its 40th anniversary (in 2024), the small family-owned business has become a popular stop for many in the area. Now, it is enjoying its moment in the spotlight after Meghan's mention.

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Despite not being very active on social media, the store is indeed open for business and thriving in the pandemic. Here's a look at the charming tale of how Humphrey became a part of Meghan's tale.

Who owns Humphrey Yogart?

The store was first opened in 1984 by Maria and Raphael Baker. Two years later, it was bought by Paula Armour, who was a field consultant for McDonald's at the time. When the landlord heard that Paula was single, he promised to find her a husband. Very soon, Jim Sheftel walked into the store and asked Paula out. It did not take long for them to get married, and Jim soon abandoned his real estate gig in Berkley to join Paula. Today, the couple run the store located at Van Nuys Boulevard. 

Over the next few years, the Sheftel's opened and franchised four more stores but had to close them soon after. However, the original Humphrey's is still present and has a booming business. Paula manages day-to-day operations while Jim takes care of the finances. Together, the duo has turned Humprhey's into a local institution. But what is it that makes Humphrey's so popular? 

According to Paula, it's the "real, fresh strawberries, raspberries and other natural ingredients to flavor our yogurt instead of artificial flavoring". In an interview with Patch, she also said, "We also feature many hard to find products for dieters and diabetics in our Diet Market." The proof is in the pudding (or yogurt in this case). Humphrey's has a 4.5-star rating on Tripadvisor and a 5-star rating on Yelp. It's not just the yogurts though, almost all the dishes on Humphrey's menu have their fans. 

It's not clear exactly when Meghan worked at the store, but it would be sometime around 1994. Unfortunately, she didn't go into any further details, and the Internet was disappointed.

'I need to go there immediately'

Humphrey Yogart was trending very shortly on Twitter after Meghan's mention. One user said, "The only thing I retained from the Meghan/Harry interview is that a yogurt place exists named “Humphrey Yogart” and I need to go there immediately." Many shared that sentiment, agreeing that the place was on their to-visit list. Another said, "Okay, I’d like to drop by Humphrey Yogart one of these days..."

It wasn't just those outside talking about it. Even those in Los Angeles took to Twitter to share their memories. One user said, "Also, who knew this Oprah interview would make me miss Humphrey Yogart. That place was so good." Another tweeted: "Humphrey Yogart is too good to be relegated to being inside of a Gelsons they used to have a ton of great grocery cookies etc - hopefully they can get a bump from this interview"

Another proud user tweeted: "My official statement on this evening’s news: if Meghan Markle worked at Humphrey Yogart circa 1994, there is a 100 percent chance I purchased yogart from her. That is all I can say on this matter."

A few others shared their amusement at learning of the existence of the place. "Wait so Humphrey Yogart is an actual place," a surprised user tweeted. Another shared: "Can’t stop thinking about Meghan working at a place called Humphrey Yogart. I’ll be thinking about this for a while."