New in Town: Nutritious shake shop opens location downtown

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Soul Nutrition is a new spot downtown that wants its smorgasbord of gluten-free smoothies to become an addition to your post-workout routine. As with its affiliate locations dotted across Michigan, including Central Nutrition on Cedar Street, its main good is its wide array of recipes for vitamin-and-mineral-packed shakes and energizing teas.

Opened in Mid-December by Olivia Ricketts, a former student-athlete at Olivet College, Soul Nutrition became her career after she was impressed by the setup and business model of Lake Michigan Nutrition in Grand Rapids.

“It was a vision of mine while I was at college. I was pursuing insurance but I visited Lake Michigan Nutrition, and I was instantly attracted by the opportunity to create a space to connect with people and help them,” Ricketts said. “I always knew I was going to help people, I just didn’t know through what avenue in life it was going to be.”

Ricketts spent last Spring tracking down a brick-and-mortar location for Soul Nutrition before settling on its downtown home on Washington Square.

“I feel like when you walk into a place, you’ll know that’s where you want to create whatever you want to create. It was all about being patient, and staying aligned with the vision I had.”

Soul Nutrition’s menu lists a dizzying variety of bases and flavor combinations. There are seven main bases: banana caramel, cafe latte, chocolate, cookies & cream, mint chocolate, dulce de leche, vanilla, pralines & cream and fruity flavors. All are gluten-free, except cookies & cream and mint chocolate.

You can add from three to well over a dozen additional flavors to the base. Additional charges open up the option of adding components such as fat burners and protein to your shake.

Other beverages include protein coffee and sweetened — or unsweetened — tea. These drinks can be upgraded with energy shots and B-vitamins.

While Soul Nutrition continues to undergo renovations, Ricketts hopes to generate a cozy, familiar neighborhood vibe she compared to the still somehow inescapable sitcom “Friends.”

“We want couches up front, and I’m trying to invite a local artist to come do a mural, I just haven’t found one yet. We want somebody that understands the vision of Soul Nutrition,” Ricketts said.

Soul Nutrition

Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

222 S. Washington Sq., Lansing

facebook.com/SoulNutritionn

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