Southwest Austinite Chris Schoenfeld said when he was growing up he was a picky eater.

“The only greens I ate were spinach, and I only ate spinach because of Popeye,” he said.

When he started playing basketball at Crockett High School, he said he bought an inexpensive juicer and started making juices and shakes.

“I was [making] protein shakes and putting greens in my protein shakes because I wasn’t getting that in my normal diet,” he said.

He developed several recipes and founded The Juice Bar LLC, which opened its first location July 4, 2012, on Slaughter Lane. Patrons can order drinks and watch staffers juice fruits and vegetables to order.

“We’ll take the actual whole item and juice it as fresh as possible,” he said. “We use leafy greens like kale and spinach, [and] if they’re fresh enough they’re still going to have those live enzymes in there.”

Fruits and vegetables are never frozen, and there are no syrups or added sugar, he said. The menu includes juices, smoothies and juice cleanses, which can boost energy, he said.

Customers can also buy acai bowls ($9) as breakfast, lunch or post-workout meal replacements, he said.

“People come in and they want something healthy, but they don’t want to drink it; they want something to eat, something a little more hearty than a smoothie,” he said.

Schoenfeld said his wife found the Slaughter Lane site, noting it is conveniently located near a Planet Fitness—and home.   

Raising the bar

Owner Chris Schoenfeld opened The Juice Bar’s Slaughter Lane location on July 4, 2012. The company opened a second location in December 2013 on Ben White Boulevard, which closed in April.

Schoenfeld said he is looking to expand elsewhere in Austin or possibly outside Texas. Individuals or companies interested in opening The Juice Bar franchises can contact [email protected].

The Juice Bar LLC

1807 W. Slaughter Lane, Ste. 475 512-280-0884 www.juicebaraustin.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 8 a.m.-7 p.m.