Located in the heart of downtown Bloomington shining brightly with neon green letters is "Soul Juice," a new juice bar and eatery across from the Monroe County Courthouse that opened Sept. 10.
Soul Juice owners Jordan Huneycutt and Julian Rogers noticed there was no place in Bloomington that offers a 100% organic- and alkaline-based menu. They wanted to provide quality products as opposed to something that has a large amount of sugar, which is acidic and brings your body down, they said.
“We wanted to make sure that not only do our products have an amazing taste, but that they are also very beneficial to the body,” Huneycutt said. “Our whole motivation was to create a product that we love, but also that we knew everyone else would love.”
Huneycutt said Soul Juice is transparent about their ingredients and that they do not add any sweeteners besides agave and natural maple syrup. Their smoothies and juices are made with fresh fruits and do not require any artificial ingredients.
After educating themselves about ancient grains from the work of Alfredo Darrington Bowman, also known as Dr. Sebi, a Honduran herbalist, and with the help of their general manager, Joel Jacobson, a detox specialist, they came up with their menu.
Inside the eatery, there is light hitting all corners from the large windows and bright colors. An array of seating and decorations frame the juice bar, including a tree in the back, a colorful staple wall with the phrase ‘Keep It Juicy’ and a bathroom with purple lighting and bananas hanging from the ceiling.
IU senior Manha Iftikhar said Soul Juice’s decor is what appeals to most college students and young adults.
“The decor is very Instagrammable,” Iftikhar said. “College students would appreciate the presentation and vibes of the place.”
IU senior Nuha Zackariya said their commitment to clean eating is what differentiates them from other competitors in Bloomington. She understood the ingredients are expensive, which is why the menu items are more expensive than fast food item prices, and would personally struggle to spend that much money on smoothie bowls and other food items.
“Soul Juice has appealing vibes, satisfactory food and a nice mission,” Zackariya said. “It is pretty much what you expect it to be.”
Some of Soul Juice’s most popular menu items include their ‘24 Carrot Magic’ juice which is good for the skin and stomach. Their ‘Berries on Berries’ smoothie has 92 essential minerals from sea moss and the ‘OG Acai’ smoothie bowl is made with all-natural maple syrup.
“A few of our most popular food items have been our toast and waffles made from spelt flour,” Huneycutt said. “Normal bleached flour is very acidic for your body, the spelt flour works with your digestive system rather than against it.”
Huneycutt said he wants prospective customers to know they are not in the business to make money. He wants to educate people so they can remain healthy.
With deals including $2 off smoothie bowls Tuesday and waffle Wednesdays, Soul Juice is inviting everyone to their eatery to encourage healthy eating. They also accept the Crimson Card as a form of payment.
In the future, Soul Juice is looking to add stone ground nut butters and zucchini noodle salad bowls to their menu, in addition to expanding their stores.
“We aren’t in it to make the cheapest stuff to turn the highest profit,” Huneycutt said. “We spend more money to be 100% organic and fuel your body correctly.”
