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Montvale Millennial Opens Hip New Park Ridge Juice Bar

PARK RIDGE, N.J. — Ever since Jessica Piatt opened Beets Juice Bar last month, Park Ridge High School students have a healthy place to hang out at lunchtime and 3:15 p.m.

Jessica Piatt helping a customer at the new Beets Juice Bar in Park Ridge.

Jessica Piatt helping a customer at the new Beets Juice Bar in Park Ridge.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
Beets Juice Bar on Hawthorne Avenue in Park Ridge.

Beets Juice Bar on Hawthorne Avenue in Park Ridge.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
Homemade gluten-free, dairy-free breads at Beets Juice Bar.

Homemade gluten-free, dairy-free breads at Beets Juice Bar.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
Organic coffees are a specialty at Beets.

Organic coffees are a specialty at Beets.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
Jessica Piatt of Montvale painted and decorated her Beets Juice Bar herself.

Jessica Piatt of Montvale painted and decorated her Beets Juice Bar herself.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
The smoothie board at Beets.

The smoothie board at Beets.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash

“I always wanted something like this in my hometown,” said Piatt, 23, of Montvale.

“We never had it when I was growing up.”

Piatt, who used to work as a certified personal trainer, has been interested in health her whole life.

So it’s natural she landed in a business with a sign out front that reads: “Drink Good Feel Good.”

Beets is in a cool building, formerly a dry cleaner, with 18-foot ceilings.

It serves up homemade smoothies —Berry A-Peeling, anyone? — as well as juices, organic coffees and teas, protein smoothies, and bowls.

A bowl is Beets-speak for an ice cream-like treat made with a thick smoothie base and covered with granola, berries, banana, or any topping a customer wants.

Since the shop is a few doors down from Cyclesport on Hawthorne Avenue, Piatt makes a Cyclist Smoothie, for energy.

What’s in it? Banana, blueberries, oatmeal, coconut milk, and vanilla protein.

Beets also offers concentrated shots with names such as Inflammation Aid, Immune Aid, Tummy Aid, and Wheatgrass.

“I’m just trying to show that eating healthy isn’t as awful as a lot of people think,” Piatt said.

“It’s actually fun and it can taste really amazing.”

After college, Piatt found it nearly impossible to find a job in her field of study at Kean University – psychology.

So she searched for work as a dietitian. Also to no avail.

After a time, she had a brainstorm: opening Beets Juice Bar.

“I thought this was more direct with helping people,” she said. “Instead of telling them what to eat, I just make it for them. Then they like it.”

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