Photo by Claire Hueg
There’s a new hidden gem in Dogtown. 2418 University Ave. is the home to the newly opened Lifestyle Juice Bar.
What was once Paparazzi Hair Salon is now the first location of the locally owned business.
The owner, Nico McQuist, has been in the food industry for 25 years and has experience with owning a business and managing others, as well.
The supplier of Lifestyle’s produce is Loffredo’s Produce & Co in West Des Moines. Their fruit is delivered every morning so fresh quality produce is guaranteed.
They also buy from local fruit stands around Des Moines.
The juice bar has 18 different juices to choose from.
They range from everyday fruits such as strawberries and mangos, to super foods like kale and fresh ginger.
The juice is all made to order, so any fruit can be substituted out or in.
Lifestyle is proud of the fact that it can accommodate to practically any health allergy need for customers. They have sterilized equipment set aside to ensure that customers will be free from the worry of their juice coming in contact with fruit they are allergic to.
The juice recommendations from the staff are the Morning Glory and the Peach Perfect.
Once the order is placed, the employees take the fresh fruit out of the cooler and cut it up right in front of their customers and, within a minute, the drink is delivered and students can be out the door.
Since their grand opening just a couple weeks ago, employee Xavier Turner said they have had great business so far.
“We’ve been doing pretty well with business since we opened,” Turner said. “We’re working on our social media networking, but we’ve just been spreading information by word of mouth. Word spreads pretty fast because plenty of people have come in so far.”
While students can get their juice quickly, Turner hopes students will stay and experience the ambiance surrounding the juice bar.
“We want this to turn into a hangout place for students, where they can come and go in between classes,” Turner said.
Lifestyle’s Facebook page, which now has 170 likes, has pictures of the drinks they offer. The page has people complimenting them on their service and drinks.
Customer and Drake student Jodie Herman left a review on their page that said “Great juice and excellent service! I can’t wait to try more!”
The shop, filled to the brim with fruit, offers students a new option for grabbing drink on the go for a reasonable price.
A table and set of chairs sit outside the entrance and could be a place to study or to sit and talk with friends.
The location of the juice bar to campus is convenient and going forward, students from Drake will be their main group of frequent customers, Turner said.
