Down the corridors of the forty fifth Parallel constructing, the commercial metallic and neutral-toned inside lends itself to many small workplaces. However within the far again, one area is vibrant orange, with one wall adorned with fake straw texture, cabinets and containers of juice. This pop of brightly coloured juice paradise is Teja Juice Firm, owned by a Latina aunt and niece duo.
For Belen Lopez-Delgado and her aunt, Eva Lara Lopez − additionally an proprietor of Paloma’s Taqueria − bettering folks’s well being was the basis of the concept.
To Good Well being
“We went into it with completely different concepts, however one of many largest was that I used to be seeing the shortage of fruit and veggies in our diets,” Belen mentioned. “What higher solution to make issues extra enjoyable and recent than to juice them?”
The Lopezes knew of the advantages of juice early on, as the advantages they reaped from day by day consumption had been additionally one of many causes they selected juice particularly.
Eva mentioned she feels higher after she has one, particularly after a latest surgical procedure left her unable to eat strong meals throughout restoration. The choice of getting a wholesome and nutritious juice was useful for her restoration, she mentioned.
Belen additionally mentioned her mother and different household and associates have mentioned they really feel higher as nicely, and had no thought juice might be so useful when so many in the marketplace are sugary and have components like colours, preservatives and the like.
Teja’s juices include fruit and veggies and are impressed by the aguas naturales, which is roughly translated to Mexican freshwater, Belen defined. Different merchandise to come back quickly embrace smoothies, smoothie bowls and palettas Mexicanas (Mexican popsicles), which can change into out there on a rolling foundation because the climate warms.
“We need to see our prospects have wholesome, pure gadgets at their disposal,” Eva mentioned. “We have labored actually exhausting, and (Belen) has achieved nicely at with the ability to make every drink a particular one, along with her personal particular contact, so each buyer will get what they need.”
Making Well being Accessible
When the concept of a juice store is introduced up, the imagery that involves thoughts could also be of fancy minimalistic outlets seen in Los Angeles with stuffy clientele and closely overpriced drinks. However Belen mentioned that stuffy, obnoxiously inaccessible “vibe” is what Teja is attempting to go in opposition to.
“You consider that vibe, and I do not agree with that – like in any respect,” Belen mentioned. “I feel that the tradition behind our accessibility is encompassing of all the things; I need Teja to be welcoming not simply by way of id like race, age gender, however to be inclusive to everybody as attainable. You need not look a sure means or dwell a sure life-style to have recent fruit and veggies, which I feel lots of people assume they have to be, but it surely’s in our fundamental meals pyramid!
“I simply need you to get your fruit and veggies,” Belen mentioned, laughing.
Teja’s juices are 100% fruit and veggies, and vary from inexperienced juices (Candy Inexperienced has apples, pears, cucumber, kale and lemon) to different vibrant vegetable colours like beet purple (Recent Beet) and carrot orange (Citrus Carrot Mix) amongst different juice varieties.
Each 16 oz juice is a flat $8. Having inexpensive pricing for juice was considered one of Belen’s targets as a result of individuals who need a good, wholesome drink can “nonetheless have one thing wholesome, however style good and nonetheless be accessible.”
For the Tradition
Teja Juice Co., is called after the roofing tiles on Spanish clay homes seen in Mexico and the southern U.S. The general vibrant orangey theme stems from a terracotta motif, because the juice store’s countertop is made from stucco.
Belen mentioned this was all impressed by her grandparents’ homes, so it was becoming for household and tradition to be current in all the things for a family-owned and run juice store.
Eva, as one of many house owners of Paloma’s Taqueria, mentioned the transition from taco truck to juice store has been utterly completely different, however she’s managed to merge the cultures, tied with their Hispanic background, collectively.
“It is lots of work and energy (to be each on the taco truck and juice store),” Eva mentioned. “However we (at Teja) have an excellent staff.”
Establishing through the pandemic
Teja was an concept that began lengthy earlier than a marketing strategy was ever written.
In 2019, the concept of a juice store was one thing that Belen and Eva bounced round every time they noticed one another at household gatherings or bumped into one another. They’d get excited, work slightly bit on it as they balanced their full-time jobs, after which cease till they noticed one another once more and bought re-inspired. In 2020, Eva lastly sat Belen down and mentioned it was attainable to make their daydream a actuality.
“We had been ready, after the little issues we would achieved, and simply bought to it,” Belen mentioned.
From there, they began taking a look at leases and had been launched to the areas contained in the forty fifth Parallel constructing, which they settled on because it “has a lot potential to develop,” Belen mentioned.
With a lease they signed in early 2021, getting development accomplished and tools for the area was the identical expertise as different new eating places: a ready sport. Sufficient was prepared in November for Teja to have a comfortable opening, with not a lot posted on social media or shared broadly as a result of wanting to verify that they had sufficient stock.
“Actually all the things has been quick,” Belen mentioned. “Typically the shops aren’t as stocked or the produce is not as recent so we have now to attend longer for sure elements. Initially I wished to promote with glass bottles, as a result of it is extra sustainable and higher for the surroundings, however with the scarcity their costs rose and it wasn’t doable.”
As Belen is finalizing the smoothie recipes, she mentioned she and Eva are excited for the eventual rollout of different merchandise. Additionally they simply launched their web site for folk to have the ability to order a restricted choice of juices on-line to choose up on the storefront.
“We’re each working exhausting to have the ability to proceed,” Eva mentioned. “We simply need to thanks all for trusting and coming to assist Latin-owned companies, our group in Salem and past.”
For more information on Teja, yow will discover them on their website, tejajuiceco.com or comply with them on Instagram, @tejasjuiceco.
Handle: 2195 Hyacinth St NE Ste 108
