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mokenamessenger.com news<br />
the Mokena Messenger | December 7, 2017 | 9<br />
Smoothie King blends its way into Mokena<br />
Mokena resident<br />
opens franchise<br />
location with healthy<br />
options galore<br />
Amanda Stoll, Assistant Editor<br />
The word “franchise”<br />
might not invoke images of<br />
fruits and vegetables and<br />
protein-rich snack options,<br />
but that’s exactly what Mokena<br />
residents Brian and<br />
Kim Griffith set out to do<br />
when they opened up a<br />
Smoothie King location.<br />
At the end of October, the<br />
couple started blending up<br />
healthy options for patrons,<br />
with protein-rich smoothies<br />
taking center stage. In addition<br />
to smoothies, the shop<br />
sells health-conscious snacks<br />
including dark chocolate cashews,<br />
protein cookies, veggie<br />
chips, Greek yogurt pretzels<br />
and protein bars.<br />
The franchise opened their<br />
first location in 1989 in New<br />
Orleans with the intention of<br />
making “smoothies with a<br />
purpose.” There are currently<br />
more than 800 locations in<br />
the world.<br />
Brian Griffith said he and<br />
his wife Kim chose to open<br />
a Smoothie King location in<br />
Mokena, where he has lived<br />
for the past 12 years, as a<br />
way to provide healthy food<br />
and snack options for adults<br />
and children in the area.<br />
“It was important for us to<br />
bring a franchise to the Mokena,<br />
Lincoln-Way area that<br />
was healthy for the community...<br />
and more importantly<br />
for our children,” Brian<br />
Griffith said. “We need our<br />
kids to be healthier. We talk<br />
about it, and we hear about it<br />
in the news — about all the<br />
sugary sodas and even all the<br />
juices are loaded with sugar.<br />
We have a diabetes issue out<br />
there. We have an obesity issue<br />
in America today, so my<br />
thought, along with my wife<br />
Brian Griffith stands in the Smoothie King location at 19200 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena. He and his wife Kim opened the shop on Oct. 28 this year. The<br />
franchise location offers a variety of health-conscious snack options in addition to their numerous smoothie blends. Amanda Stoll/22nd Century Media<br />
Kim, was to bring a healthy<br />
alternative to the community<br />
that we live in.”<br />
The community has been<br />
supportive since the shop<br />
opened on Oct. 28, and<br />
many people have given<br />
him positive feedback about<br />
the health benefits of the<br />
franchise he chose, Brian<br />
Griffith said.<br />
Opening a health-conscious<br />
franchise was a easy<br />
choice for the two, who are<br />
both into health and fitness<br />
personally. He said he enjoys<br />
running and did so in collegiate<br />
track and even has a<br />
few marathons under his belt.<br />
He said he wife enjoys walking<br />
and running, as well.<br />
“I’m going back to my<br />
roots of health and fitness,”<br />
Brian Griffith said. “Combine<br />
that with a healthy, nutritional<br />
product, it’s a perfect<br />
fit for us.”<br />
After dong some research,<br />
Brian Griffith said they decided<br />
on Smoothie King because<br />
of the supportive family<br />
and community feel they<br />
got during initial meetings<br />
and the application process.<br />
The Smoothie King menu<br />
includes Fitness, Slim, Wellness<br />
and “Take a Break”<br />
Blends and vegan options,<br />
as well as those made specifically<br />
for children.<br />
Of the many options, Brian<br />
Griffith said his all-time<br />
favorite is the Pineapple<br />
Surf, one of the Take a Break<br />
Blends, which includes pineapple,<br />
strawberries, a kiwi<br />
juice blend and vanilla protein<br />
powder with some raw<br />
turbinado sugar for a little<br />
added sweetness.<br />
The self-described coffee<br />
lover said he also really likes<br />
the high-protein coffee menu<br />
option. The Vanilla Coffee<br />
High Protein is made with<br />
whey protein, cold-brewed<br />
coffee, almonds, cocoa, nonfat<br />
dry milk and the raw, turbinado<br />
sugar.<br />
Smoothies are available in<br />
20, 32 and 40 ounce sizes,<br />
as well as a 12 oz Kids’ Cup<br />
size.<br />
In addition to the numerous<br />
add-in options for each<br />
of the smoothies, Brian<br />
Griffith said there are some<br />
substitutions available, but<br />
they try not to change the<br />
recipes too much because<br />
they are balanced both nutritionally<br />
and taste-wise.<br />
The Griffiths employ<br />
about 20 people, most of<br />
whom are local high school<br />
students who attend Lincoln-Way<br />
Central and Lincoln-Way<br />
East.<br />
“They’re getting an opportunity<br />
to learn how to work in<br />
a retail environment,” Brian<br />
Griffith said. “They’re learning<br />
skills: how to manage<br />
money [and] how to make<br />
sure that they are complying<br />
with federal, state and<br />
local health laws. So, I feel<br />
great about that. I like giving<br />
back. It’s another way to<br />
give back is to employ and<br />
teach younger people responsibility<br />
and what all goes<br />
into helping them to run a<br />
smoothie business like this.”<br />
Smoothie King is located<br />
at 19200 S. LaGrange Road<br />
in Mokena. Complete nutritional<br />
information and full<br />
menu available at www.<br />
smoothieking.com
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