JACKSON, MI – The many fast-food options available in Jackson made Janet Parker want to bring something healthy to the Jackson-area’s hungry residents.
Parker, along with Hayley Edwards-Bollinger, opened Elements Juice Bar at the beginning of June, just two doors down from Parker’s other business Sweet Scoops. When the juice bar Qwench closed in December 2022, the pair decided to fill the gap for healthier options, Parker said.
The juice bar offers a range of smoothies, juices, acai bowls and grain bowls. Parker and Bollinger try to locally source products as much as they can from local farmers, including the honey from Parker’s home bee farm.
“Our theory here is fresh, fresh, fresh,” Parker said. “We’re staying away from the genetically modified ingredients.”
A range of smoothies can be found, but the most popular, Parker said, is the Kale Yeah, which comes with kale, pineapple, banana, almond milk, flax seeds and honey.
“People really enjoy it because it gives you that kale component and then if we add some super greens into it or other super foods, it’s really healthy,” Parker said.
Acai bowls also are popular. They are layered with acai at the bottom, then banana and coconut water and topped with granola, berries, fruit and honey. The most popular is the European Nut, because it’s made with Nutella and Brazil nuts, Parker said.
“It’s like a sorbet almost, a frozen thing that we put at the bottom and then top it with all the fruits and granola,” Parker said. “It’s a healthy meal, a tasty meal.”
Elements Juice Bar hasn’t been open long but it’s attracting regulars already, especially people coming in the morning for a protein shake, or stopping by after the gym, Parker said.
Plans are to expand the menu in the near future to include coffee and boba teas, she said.
Elements Juice Bar, 1083 N. Wisner St., is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
More information can be found on its Facebook page and website.
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