Raw Juce Opens in Aventura, South Beach Location Coming in June

Raw Juce, a juice and smoothie bar that has taken over Palm Beach County, has made its way south to Aventura (19911 Biscayne Blvd.), with more locations coming soon. The store opened about two months ago, bringing raw, organic, and local eats and drinks to the "City of Excellence." 

With vegan and vegetarian eateries on the rise, Raw Juce's philosophy is centered on living a healthier lifestyle by eating (and drinking) uncooked, unprocessed, and mostly organic foods. Think whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, transformed into aesthetically pleasing açaí bowls and brightly colored juice cleanses. 

Since opening Raw Juce, cofounder Barry Rabkin says reactions to it and its mission have been incredible.

"Everyone involved in Raw Juce are fanatics about this lifestyle," he says. "We all live it. It's not just something that's in the store. We're really passionate about a healthy, plant-based life, and it makes the job that much easier because everyone is going in the same direction."
The concept, which Rabkin started in Boca Raton with partners Steve Shaffer and Jeff Levine, who is also president and CEO of Florida-based Salad Creations, has three locations in Palm Beach County. A third store in Boca, along with Jupiter, Weston, and South Beach (959 West Ave., Suite 13) locations, are slated to open before 2017, with South Beach opening first in June. Talks of Brickell and South Miami spots are in the works too, Rabkin says. 

Every location, from its decor to its menu and ingredients, is nearly identical. Every cold-pressed juice is made in a commissary kitchen in Boca and outsourced to locations across South Florida. "It's important to know that the same juice we have in Boca is the same in Aventura and will be the same in South Beach," he says. "We made everything ourselves and have total control over the quality." Walk into any Raw Juce location and become mesmerized with colorful lines of shiny bottles filled with juices made with everything from cucumber, spinach, and kale, to gala apple, strawberry, and kiwi ($9.50 to $11). There's cold-pressed black and mocha coffee too, which uses ingredients such as almond milk, cacao dip, and Madagascar vanilla. For something smaller, there's a "shots" menu, which uses similar ingredients meant to induce an immunity or energy boost for drinkers.

Take it a step further with a uniquely designed Raw Juce juice cleanse, which is said to remove toxins, stabilize blood sugar levels, flush out water weight, and help one's body function more efficiently. They're priced starting at $45, which gives you juice until dinner, to a seven-day cleanse priced at $450, which includes 42 juices and 14 shots. 
And if you thought "raw" meant only ounces of kale and ginger infused in liquids, think again. Juice aside, there's a bevy of smoothies ($9 to $13.50), açaí bowls ($10.50 to $13.50), raw oatmeal ($6), salads, and raw desserts on the menu. Munch on bites such as raw cashew butter cups, made with coconut oil and sea salt; banana cinnamon crunch raw oatmeal parfait, which blends bananas, almond milk, cinnamon, and honey; and a range of açaí bowls that fuse ingredients like goji berries, honey, mango, strawberries, bee pollen, and protein. The store recently released a "black magic" bowl, which takes activated charcoal and blends it  with banana, chia seeds, flaxseed granola, coconut flakes, blueberry, and raw honey. 

"It's not just a juice bar. It's an experience. Everyone has a great time here, and that's part of the magic," Rabkin says.

"We're really just beginning, though," he adds. "We have some big plans in the works. We will definitely be expanding across the country. Whether it's D.C., Texas, or New York first, we'll be everywhere one day."

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