The Juice Shack to bring cold-press juices, smoothies, and acai bowls to the 600 block in downtown St. Pete
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Coming this December to 657 Central Avenue is the Juice Shack, a juice bar that specializes in a wide range of cold-press juices, smoothies, and wellness shots. The spot was previously home to a soap shop called BLU Luxe Island, and before that was Two Fold Bicycle Shop.
The Juice Shack is owned and operated by Victoria Sook and her daughter, Miranda Sook, as well as Aaron Dunlap, and if not for COVID-19 pandemic, the establishment might never have existed. The mother-daughter duo, who originally hail from West Virginia, both worked in the service industry in Nashville when the coronavirus began to spread across the country.
They write on their website that they were working as bartenders and waitresses when the virus started “taking people down left and right.” They had been fans of cold-pressed juice for years and decided to take the plunge and start a business based around it.
The Juice Shack will be located at 657 Central Avenue in downtown St. pete. The space was formerly home to a soap shop called BLU Luxe Island | St. Pete Rising
“The two of us started thinking about how important our health was,” they write. “We wanted to make a difference and help others have the resources and options to consume the healthy food that we were making sure we had during this time.”
Cold-pressed juice has become popular over the past decade with people who are on “cleanse” diets. The process of making cold-pressed juice requires no added ingredients and maximizes the liquid and nutrients that come from fruits and vegetables.
Cold-pressed juice doesn’t go through the pasteurization process, which requires heat; instead, it’s made with a hydraulic press. Also, proponents of cold-pressed juice say it can boost the body’s immune system, improve digestion, and increase energy levels.
The Juice Shack is owned and operated by Victoria Sook and her daughter, Miranda Sook | St Pete Rising
“We dove head-first in to the cold-pressed juicing world and wow, we were blown away by the number of people who were ready to tackle their health and/or maintain it,” the Sooks write.
They opened their first cold-pressed juice bar, called the Juice Box, in Charleston, West Virginia. Its menu features 16 different juices made from everything from carrots and celery to beetroot, grapefruit, pineapple, and, of course, oranges. It also serves a limited food menu, with items such as toast, acai bowls, paninis, and salads.
The dessert menu is also intended to be part of a healthful diet. It features Fat Bombs, made with peanut butter, vanilla whey protein, and dark chocolate chips; and Sweet Dreams, whose ingredients include bananas, chickpeas, peanut butter, cranberries, and walnuts.
From floor to ceiling, the space is adorned with neon signs, lush greenery, and bright pastels — perfect for an Instagram snap or two | St Pete Rising
In the future, the pair also plans to offer boozy smoothies in St. Pete featuring a healthier sangria and frosé.
“Our mission is to reveal the truths behind consuming healthier food and what amazing benefits our bodies reap from it” Victoria and Miranda write. “We are overjoyed that we have been able to bring this to our community and are able to inform those who don’t already know about the health benefits behind the options we are providing.”
The interior design for The Juice Shack was conceptualized by Summer Wilson of Elite Season Living. From floor to ceiling, the space is adorned with neon signs, lush greenery, and bright pastels — perfect for an Instagram snap or two.
The Juice Shack is hoping to open their doors this December at 657 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete. Be sure to follow them on Instagram at @thejuiceshackfl.
