Solomon Choi, an entrepreneur identified for founding the self-serve frozen yogurt chain 16 Handles, has died. He was 44.
In his last Instagram post in March 2023, Choi revealed that he offered the enterprise in the course of the pandemic in 2022.
Following information of his demise, 16 Handles’ largest franchisee, Neil Hershman, shared a press release.
Solomon Choi/ Instagram
“We’re deeply saddened by the surprising passing of 16 Handles’ founder and former CEO Solomon Choi,” Hershman instructed Restaurant Business in a press release, additionally obtained by PEOPLE.
“He was a visionary who got here to New York Metropolis in his 20s and based this iconic frozen dessert model. 16 Handles is the place I acquired my private begin in franchising and I owe a lot to Solomon for the alternatives, schooling, mentorship and friendship he offered me all through the years.”
“A part of the mission assertion for 16 Handles is to ‘create moments of happiness,’ and Solomon really embodied this in his private {and professional} life, all the time sporting a giant smile and optimistic outlook,” Hershman’s assertion continued.
“Our hearts exit to his household, pals and all those that beloved him and labored with him throughout this extremely tough time.”
In response to Choi’s LinkedIn profile, he was scheduled to take part in a panel for QSR Summit’s “The Way forward for Digital Transformation within the Quick Informal & QSR Business” on Tuesday, June 11.
The account lists him because the CEO of Jabba Manufacturers and places his place of residence as New York.
Per his obituary, Choi died on June 7. A explanation for demise was not listed.
Solomon Choi/ Instagram
Earlier than launching 16 Handles, the Seoul, South Korea-born entrepreneur attended the College of Southern California Marshall Faculty of Enterprise, graduating with a B.S. in Enterprise Administration in 2002.
Choi is survived by his spouse Hannah Chang-Choi, their two kids — 7-year-old Jubilee and 4-year-old Joshua – his mother and father and two sisters.
The couple met in 2015 and have been engaged inside 85 days of assembly each other.
Simply six months after they met, Choi and Chang-Choi have been married.
“Solomon was an excellent instance of a person pushed by his objective and religion in God and captivated with sharing the love of Christ with others. He led a Christian males’s group and was dedicated to supporting and difficult these round him to be one of the best variations of themselves,” per his obituary.
His family members mentioned his “legacy will dwell on perpetually,” and made be aware of his “relentless optimism, his self-discipline & fearlessness, and his Michael Jackson dance strikes.”
By no means miss a narrative — join PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to remain up-to-date on one of the best of what PEOPLE has to supply, from celeb information to forcing human curiosity tales.
“He was dedicated to loving his spouse and kids to one of the best of his capacity and will probably be remembered because the world’s greatest husband and daddy,” the obituary mentioned.
Companies for Choi will probably be held at Promise Church on Saturday, June 14, at 5 p.m.
