We Be Jamba Juicin’ : Jamba Juice Returns to the DC Market with the Help of Venus Williams

our first juice, the Tropical Kick-Start with freshly squeezed OJ and Mango

Run, don’t walk, to one (or both) of the brand spanking newly opened Jamba Juice locations in the DC metro area.  I know I did, as have many, especially Tuesday afternoon because Venus Williams (yes, that Venus Williams) was in town meeting and greeting guests at the Dupont Circle store.  Williams, tennis superstar and entrepreneur is in a joint venture with the company for the DC metro locales.  After appearing on The Today Show she came south to our little nations capital to say drink up and “Live Fruitfully!” to admiring fans and smoothie patrons.

Dupont Circle Jamba Juice opens on 19th Street NW

me and Ted the Jamba Juice Banana ... he's the OFFICIAL guy

Lucky for some local bloggers, we got the backstage tour of the Dupont store and even were given the chance to make our very own drink.  But before that all happened, we had a nice luncheon and presentation, hosted by the marketing folks of Jamba Juice, at Hotel George.  It’s amazing what you can learn about a company and more importantly, a brand.

a menu ....

the food menu

Jamba Juice, a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: JMBA) was founded in 1990 in California and today has over 749 stores domestically, internationally there are 25 as of today with many of them found in South Korea.  The majority of the U.S. locations are in California, but the spread of this healthy living, active lifestyle company continues to expand, obviously including into our market in the metro area.  The next on the slate is in Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, and with a few more to open in the fall, locations TBD.

another menu

Julie Liu, Director of Product Marketing and the Dupont store manager Felicia

The company doesn’t define itself as just a smoothie company, but rather takes a holistic, “unscientific”, natural way to lead a healthy lifestyle, even going as far as launching another year fighting against obesity and promoting an active way of living with the “Team Up for a Healthy America” campaign.  Many of the stores have athletes as partners/owners which helps with the star quality certainly, but also that the brand is recognized by industry professionals as a leader in good health standards.

Jamba Juice also serves up tasty nutritious food items like steel cut oatmeal for breakfast and California Flatbreads, and a variety of baked goods and snacks.  But, if you just want to drink up, the extensive smoothies, non-dairy and dairy, fruit and veggie juices, and freshly squeezed juices or blends takes care of your thirst right there on the spot. They even offer a “lite” version for those who are looking to lower their sugar intake.

no, I haven't changed careers YET, but I sure did enjoy wearing that apron and hat for the very short period of time!

Another thing these great guys and gals are hoping to do is get their juices into schools, institutions (they are in DC Central Kitchen), sporting venues by way of “vending machines”.  I say, get rid of the soda machines and replace with Jamba Juice! Ok, I may be way hopped up on the three drinks I’ve had thus far today, one of them being my Apple n’ Greens smoothie I made.

Check out the newest DC locations at Union Station and 1333 19th Street, NW.