Michigan's First Juiceblendz Smoothie Bar Franchise Coming To Downtown Grand Rapids

Add smoothies and frozen yogurt to the growing list of food and drink options available soon in the bustling Heartside Arena District.

A Forest Hills couple is bringing a franchise location of JuiceBlendz to downtown Grand Rapids this summer, in space leased from CWD Real Estate at 15 Ionia Ave. SW, between J. Gardella's Tavern and Go Java Coffee shop.

The downtown Grand Rapids location will be the first in Michigan for the Florida-based smoothie bar franchise, which markets itself as a healthier alternative to juice bar giants like Jamba Juice.

"We're excited to be moving into the Arena District," said Teri-Jo Mettler, who will co-own the JuiceBlendz franchise with her husband, Dana.

"With all the vibrancy going on downtown; the new Downtown Market and growth in the Heartside � we're excited to be a part of all that's going on down there." The smoothie bar will be a co-branded location with Yoblendz, a companion self-serve frozen yogurt business. Mettler said the business also plans to sell in-house made wraps, salads and potentially soups during the winter.

"It's not another bar and I think it complements the neighborhood nicely," said Sam Cummings, managing partner at CWD, which owns the building. "It's good co-tenancy for the rest of the block." Cummings said the Mettlers signed a 10-year lease on the roughly 1,500 square-foot space, which has housed multiple different hair salons during the past 20 years.

Yogurt cup.JPG juiceblendz logo.jpg The couple are investing roughly $300,000 into the venture.

Mettler said JuiceBlendz will sell 25 standard menu smoothies made with fresh fruit and ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible. Customization by customers is encouraged. Raw juices like wheatgrass and carrot juice will be offered. Vitamin, protein and energy powder additives will be available.

Initially, the couple was looking at suburban locations. However, Mettler said they were swayed by the architecture and exposed brick inside the historic Blodgett Building. The resurgent nature of downtown in recent years, anchored by the Van Andel Arena and events like ArtPrize, also helped seal the deal.

The oft-debated parking situation downtown was a non-factor, they said.

"We've made a decision to cater to people already downtown, who have already figured out where to park," said Dana Mettler. While most suburban retail locations bank on a sea of asphalt to cater to drivers, "we decided that we didn't really need that with the vibrancy of the district." JuiceBlendz is the first foray into franchise ownership for the Mettlers. Dana is a former commercial airline pilot from Colorado laid-off during the Midwest-Frontier merger. Teri-Jo is an East Kentwood High School graduate and former regional manager for Bristol-Myers Squibb.

The couple became interested in the self-serve frozen yogurt business in Arizona last year, and that eventually led them to the JuiceBlendz franchise.

The two bumped into HopCat and Grand Rapids Brewing Co. owner Mark Sellers recently in East Lansing, and "how successful he's been was a factor in our comfort level with saying ‘let's do it,'" she said.

They are hoping to open mid-August and iron-out any kinks ahead of ArtPrize. The location should employ between 10 and 20 people to start.

Business hours are not yet finalized, but should be about 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., adjustable based on downtown events. Online marketing materials are under development.

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