SARATOGA SPRINGS – Saratoga Juice Bar has brought the cold pressed juice craze, and all the benefits it provides, to Saratoga Springs. From increased energy to better overall nutrition, the positive effects of cold pressed juices are becoming widely known, making it the latest trend in the wellness industry. For these reasons, Saratoga Juice Bar’s reach is growing rapidly, spreading throughout the northeast, and perhaps soon, throughout the country.
Christel MacLean came up with the idea for Saratoga Juice Bar in 2013 after seeing the building vacant on Broadway. With the help of her husband, Colin, she made her juice bar dream a reality.
“It was all very much Christel’s idea. Everything from the name to the color scheme was thought of by her. She knew exactly what she wanted us to do,” said Colin MacLean.
The MacLean’s are no strangers to entrepreneurship. Christel left her job on Wall Street in the mid-90s to buy Hattie’s Restaurant, where her passion for the food industry took off. Currently, Christel and Colin Maclean own Circus Café, The Crown Grill, a real estate company, Realty Saratoga, and a consulting and seminar business, Curved Line Living. “We’re serial entrepreneurs,” Colin said with a smile.
When Saratoga Juice Bar opened in July 2013, it was only the second cold pressed juice bar in New York State, outside of the city. For research, Colin and Christel studied the top 20 cold pressed juice bars and restaurants in New York City, as well as researching the industry in California. They then hired a master juice from New York City to come up to Saratoga for four days to develop the products for Saratoga Juice Bar.
“We developed our own flavor profile based on what we felt was the best of the best we could offer Saratogians,” said Colin. “With our years of restaurant experience, it’s all about taste, integrity and sincerity. It’s 100% unadulterated raw juice.”
Cold pressed juice, considered the highest quality and most nutritional juice available, is made by using a hydraulic press to extract the juice from fruit and vegetables. No heat is ever added in the process, leaving all nutrients and healthy enzymes intact. There are five pounds of fruit in each 16 ounce bottle sold at Saratoga Juice Bar. The process and ingredients may be considered pricey by some, but the health benefits are incomparable to other juices.
“The wellness movement in the country has become the most stable growing segment of business to be involved in. It’s wonderful,” said Colin. “People’s habits and choices are constantly evolving and changing. Cold pressed juice is for anyone who is looking to either put something that’s good for them into their body for nutrition or for anyone who wants a natural energy boost from a pure product.” Colin notes that customers are across the board, from high school students and moms to athletes and professionals.
Saratoga Juice Bar offers a wide selection of cold pressed juices made in the shop, including flavors such as “Heart Beets,” “Saratoga Detox,” and “Going Green.” They also sell custom blended juices, smoothies, healthy meals like sandwiches and salads, as well as boosters to add to any beverage. Their juice cleanses are also very popular, which promote better digestion, improved energy and clearer focus throughout the day.
After the huge success of Saratoga Juice Bar over the last few years, Colin and Christel wanted to expand. They considered opening up more juice bars, but instead chose to sell their product on an even broader scale, through wholesale and e-commerce. Distribution is now set up in New York and New England, with the Macleans hoping to expand nationally. In December, Saratoga Juice launched sales at ShopRite, which is now available at 13 stores. This month, Saratoga Juice also went up on the shelves at Whole Foods, Fresh Market, five CVS stores in Boston, several New York City grocery stores, and at four local Hannaford stores, with sales reportedly going extremely well. Setting up e-commerce is still in the works, but in the future the MacLeans hope to begin online sales of their products.
“The most fun is being able to help people and guide them to make healthy choices for themselves,” concluded Colin. “The miracle of cold pressed juice is that it’s nutrition as nature intended.”
For more information about Saratoga Juice Bar, including the full list of products and where Saratoga Juice can be found, visit saratogajuicebar.com.
