Just in time for warmer weather (God willing), there’s a new spot on the Downtown Mall for cold, refreshing beverages—not the boozy kind, but the fruity kind.
Introducing The Juice Place, the brainchild of Market Street Market owners Steven and Raphael Strumlauf. The guys started overhauling the old Pearl space at 201 E. Market St. a couple of months ago, and they held a soft opening early last week.
“The entire philosophy is pretty simple,” says General Manager Hadley Rodland. “The concept is basically that everything is healthy, fresh and tastes good. Great ingredients and achievable price points. We want to be able to serve almost anybody something really good.”
The vegetarian- and vegan-friendly menu features juices, classics such as carrot (Rodland’s favorite) and orange, plus combos such as apple, carrot and ginger, and cucumber, celery, apple and mint. There are also seven smoothies, such as the creamy almond date, a filling and not-too-sweet combination of banana, almond butter, dates, peaches and hemp hearts, and absolutely no ice.
“Due to the owners’ and my commitment to things being really good and fresh across the board, there is no ice in any of our smoothies,” Rodland says. “It’s all just fruit and vegetables.”
For a quick jolt of nutrients, the menu also includes four shots, which are exactly what they sound like: small servings of super-concentrated juices with additions such as honey, oil of oregano and reishi (an herbal mushroom common in China). You can’t beet (see what we did there?) the Tiger Blood, a small deep-red pour of beet juice, lemon, ginger and cayenne. The Juice Place is open seven days a week. Check out thejuiceplacecville.com for more information and the full menu.
Sister sandwiches
Grilled cheese sandwich with bacon marmalade? Yes, please.
Not surprisingly, that concoction is coming from the Brookville team. Last week Brookville owners Harrison and Jennifer Keevil announced they will take over the old Gibson’s Grocery on Hinton Avenue and rebrand it as Keevil & Keevil Grocery and Kitchen.
The space will continue to operate as a convenience and grocery store, but the Keevils will also create a new menu of made-to-order and takeaway sandwiches and salads. And if a grilled oyster mushroom Reuben or a pork belly banh mi doesn’t appeal to you, Keevil also plans to collaborate with other chefs in the area to feature a guest chef sandwich each month.
Tasty tidbits
Grocery gaieties…As more grocery giants continue to pop up around town and wow their customers with amenities, other stores are trying to keep up with the competition. Harris Teeter, for example, recently added a beer and wine tasting bar as part of a larger remodel. Single malt shenanigans…Introducing The Virginia Whisky Experience, a new walking tour of Virginia Distillery Company complete with a look at the production distillery plus an interactive museum. Coffee collab…Want some spice in your morning (or afternoon, or evening) coffee? Shark Mountain Coffee Company recently partnered with LA-based fashion and lifestyle website Mademoiselle Meme to create a turmeric ginger cappuccino. Order it in the IX coffee shop or check out the recipe at mademoisellememe.com/eats.
This article was updated at 3:46pm May 27 to correct the former business in The Juice Place spot.
Related Links:
March 10, 2015: Charlottesville’s juice scene continues to spill all over town
Jan. 7, 2015: Juice bar opens just in time for healthy New Year’s resolutions
