October 1, 2024 | By Deb Everts | Reposted from the Salamanca Press
Pictured: Dawn Colburn recently opened Juiced at the Center Street Plaza, offering the community healthy alternatives that are sure to put them on the road to wellness.
SALAMANCA — People who are mindful of nutritious eating and all its benefits have a healthy alternative at Juiced, which opened in June at 193 Center St., located in the Center Street Plaza.
Owner Dawn Colburn said they were crazy busy when they had their grand opening, raking in $2,500 in sales that first day. She said her staff was inexperienced when they first opened and they were just learning all the smoothie recipes. Since then, the staff gained a lot of experience, and Juiced has become a very popular place for people wanting to do whatever they can to be healthier.
Colburn’s products are packed with antioxidants that provide a myriad of health benefits. To name a few, they boost immunity, reduce inflammation, improve skin, promote brain health and help prevent against certain diseases. She has many customers who say her juices, smoothies and acai berry bowls have made a difference in their health since they added them to their daily diet.
Red Dawn juice is one of Colburn’s favorites and the most popular — a blend of apple, carrot, strawberries, cucumber, red cabbage and mango nectar. She said an older gentleman comes in every day and gets the Red Dawn.
“He’s been taking a daily walk around the park for a long time and has stopped to take a break in the past. Since he’s been coming in to get the juice and drinking it each day, he said he doesn’t need to take a break anymore,” she said. “He said his cholesterol came down 15 points, and he claims it’s from just drinking the Red Dawn.”
Colburn said the feedback she gets on a daily basis is amazing. People keep coming into Juiced and talk about the weight they have lost and how they are so happy to have a healthy alternative available.
Fresh fruits and vegetables blend together to create a rainbow of flavors used in Colburn’s delicious juices, smoothies and acai berry bowls. In addition to juices that can be sampled in a flight of shots, the Original Acai Bowl is probably the most popular.
“The acai bowl base is like an ice cream or sherbet. They are all made from superfoods, which means they are loaded with nutrients and are very low in calories and sugar,” she said. “It’s topped with granola and a variety of different fruits. Some also have honey and coconut flakes or the customer can add peanut butter, almond butter or Nutella to it. We use agave syrup, honey and maple syrup as sweeteners.”
Colburn said she makes amazing banana bread using coconut oil, organic pure cane sugar and Greek yogurt. She also offers several different multi-grain toasts including one with homemade guacamole, Everything Seasoning and hemp seeds; and another with organic peanut butter or almond butter, sliced strawberry and banana, granola, honey and Chia seeds. Gluten-free options are available.
Professional Chef Jerry Forness has joined Juiced and enhanced the menu with his award-winning smoked brisket, pork and corned beef that are smoked onsite. Colburn said he had businesses in Colorado and San Diego and has won barbecue competitions in Kansas City. He was also featured on the Food Network’s TV program “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” hosted by Guy Fieri.
Colburn can attest to the benefits of healthy eating and plans to do a testimonial about her personal experience of finding wellness with healthy foods at the Salamanca schools.
According to Colburn, she once had a severe digestive issue that went on for years. Now, after changing her eating habits — including adding more fruits and vegetables — she is well and her digestive system is moving like it should.
“I didn’t realize the benefits of fruits and vegetables and what I’m putting into my body will determine how I’m going to feel both physically and mentally,” she said.
One of Colburn’s favorite things to do is travel and, she loves to find juice bars to try different juices and smoothies when she does. She said the atmosphere at the juiceries is different.
“People seem kinder and care more about their health, as well as the health of others. I thought that vibe was what Salamanca needed — that kind ‘I care about you and your health’ kind of attitude,” she said.
When patrons come in, they often ask Colburn why she opened a place like Juiced in Salamanca. Her reply is, “This is home, and our town needed something like this.”
Colburn, who has lived in Steamburg her entire life, has five children and three grandchildren. She is a social worker by trade and is very interested in public health. She did a consulting contract for the Seneca Nation for the opiate settlement in April.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Daily specials are posted on the Facebook page “Juiced Juiced.” For more information or to place an order, call (716) 584-4147, email juiced716@gmail.com or visit juiced716.com.
