New Juice Bar Celebrates Grand Opening in Grosse Pointe Park

Jungle Juice Bar in Grosse Pointe Park was a longtime in the making. Co-owner Regeania Hunter-Coleman essentially turned a hobby/lifestyle of her own into a business, she said. 

For years, she has been juicing her own combinations at home. It began years ago when she discovered she had an allergy to an ingredient in vitamins. She still needed the vitamins but was prevented from consuming vitamin pills as a result.

Now years later, Hunter-Coleman along with her niece, Syretta Hunter, own Jungle Juice Bar in Grosse Pointe Park. The pair celebrated their grand-opening Thursday with the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce with a vine-cutting.

Jungle Juice Bar offeres a variety of fruit and vegetable smoothies, raw juices, coffee, fruit and vegetable chips, fruit leather, salads and a small selection of panini sandwiches. 

With a desire to not create waste, the owners use every portion of the foods. Any remaining pulp is used for desserts, juice powders and body products, according to the company's website. 

Hunter-Coleman said she began juicing years ago in order to get the appropriate vitamins and noticed the health benefits almost immediately, noting neither she nor her husband have had a cold in years. Her energy level also increased, she said, describing it as more of a lifestyle than anything. 

"It's all about healthy options," Hunter-Coleman said, noting they are making an effort to work with companies that deal with local farms and trying to have all of their produce come from local farms.

Over the years she had developed a variety of combinations and had become known as the person to go to for smoothies and raw juices by her family and friends. 

It began with carrot juice, Hunter-Coleman said. Then she began experimenting with different flavors, adding in apple. Now she is able to rattle of a litany of combinations and explain how it may help the body. 

The ginger/apple/lemon combination, for example, is good for someone battling a cold. Another combination she recommends is the kale/apple/spinach, she said.

Previously, Hunter-Coleman was an editor for Delphi in the finance department. She was laid off about a year ago and thus was born the idea to turn her hobby into a business, she said.

The location, 14929 Charlevoix, was already in good condition, Hunter-Coleman said. They remodeled from the previous business to create an appropriate atmosphere but did not otherwise have to do any major renovations.

Currently the co-owners have six employees in addition to themselves. They are looking for additional employees and will begin their routine business hours Monday May 6, Hunter-Coleman said.

The store offers free wifi and Hunter-Coleman said she believes her location will enable her to pull customers from all over the area. They've already been well received by neighbors and passersby, Hunter-Coleman said, noting the many people who have walked in during remodeling eager for the business to open. 

Grosse Pointe Park Mayor Palmer Heenan and Councilwoman Laurie Arora attended Thursday's vine-cutting along with a variety of friends and family of Hunter-Coleman and Hunter. 

The store will be open the following hours beginning Monday May 6, 2013: 

• Monday through Saturday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sundays: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

To reach the store, visit jjbmich.com or call 313-571-3075. 

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