Solomon Choi, who founded 16 Handles, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop in New York City in 2008, died Friday at age 44. His obituary did not list a cause of death.
16 Handles grew to 40 stores internationally before Choi sold the franchise to Neil Hirschman, the company’s largest franchisor, in 2022, according to the company. Restaurant Business Online.
“I am deeply saddened by the sudden passing of 16 Handles founder and former CEO Solomon Choi,” Hirschman said in a statement. “He was a visionary who came to New York in his 20s and founded this iconic frozen dessert brand. 16 Handles is where I personally got my start in franchising, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities, education, mentorship and friendship that Solomon gave me over the years.”
“Part of 16 Handles’ mission statement is ‘Creating Happy Moments,’ and Solomon truly embodied this in both his personal and professional life, always sporting a big smile and optimistic outlook,” Hirschman said. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends and all those who loved and worked with him during this incredibly difficult time.”
Choi also founded Greeno Products, a supplier of custom disposable products to the foodservice industry, and in 2019 founded Jabba Brands, which advises, invests in and operates foodservice companies, according to the obituary.
He was also a member of the angel team at Hustle Fund, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage startups.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Choi immigrated to the United States and graduated from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business in 2002.
He was born in Seoul, Korea, and was living in Manhasset, New York at the time of his death.
According to his obituary, Choi met his wife, Hannah Chang Choi, in 2015 at 16 Handles on the Upper West Side.
In addition to his wife, Mr Choi is survived by his two children, aged 7 and 4, his parents and two sisters.
According to his LinkedIn, he was scheduled to appear on a panel about the future of digital transformation in the limited services sector.
“Solomon’s legacy will live on forever through the memories of those who had the opportunity to know him and the impact he had on countless lives,” the obituary states. “Solomon will be remembered for his relentless optimism, his disciplined and fearless attitude, and his Michael Jackson dance moves. Most importantly, he will be remembered as the best husband and greatest father in the world, committed to loving his wife and children with all his heart.”
