Few beverages are as versatile as juice. It can be used in smoothies, mixed into a punch or other drinks, frozen as a fruity popsicle, or enjoyed as is. Manna Juice Bar in Mansfield, Texas, has mastered most of these juice variations. As a healthier alternative to alcohol, Manna Juice Bar’s offerings qualify as a top contender for celebrating National Beverage Day on Friday.
Founded by Dominick and Kristi Andrew in 2019, Manna Juice Bar has become nationally recognized for its cold-pressed juices, smoothies, smoothie bowls, and vegan-friendly treats.
The husband and wife entrepreneurs initially lived in New Orleans before relocating to Mansfield shortly after Hurricane Katrina.
“I’m a newlywed. So I’m getting off [work] at 10:00 p.m., and we still need to eat dinner together,” says Kristi. “I’m going to stop and get burgers or po’boys, and we weren’t making healthy choices.”
When the two moved to the DFW area, they took it as an opportunity to change their lifestyle.
“Dallas had a lot of options and a lot of juice bars, so we started juicing and incorporating it into our lifestyle. We liked how it made us feel and supplemented us on the go,” Kristi explains. “When we thought of going on an entrepreneurial journey, we wanted to do something healthy. Juicing came up, and we felt like it was just a perfect idea.”
The idea was a great one. Dominick and Kristi started Manna Juice Bar in 2019, a year ahead of COVID. The Andrews understood that many people just like them were busy with their careers and needed a fast, convenient, and healthy meal.
“Eventually, like there’s a McDonald’s or Wendy’s on every corner, there’ll be a juice bar on every corner in 10 years or 15 years from now, so why not get ahead of that and be one of the first people to put something of substance somewhere?” reasons Kristi.
While the business saw success, it was slow, and when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the couple had thoughts of closing the doors.
“We could close it today, [or] we could close it a week from now; there’s no rush,” Kristi told her husband. “And then it exploded. Everyone was so focused on health, wellness, immunity, and natural products; we were perfectly poised to receive all of that customer interest.”
While people were getting serious about their health, a social movement was brewing in the United States as protests cropped up in the wake of George Floyd’s death in 2020.
“As terrible as that situation was,” says Kristi, “many people began taking their anger and fueling it towards supporting us and other minority businesses. It launched us to the next level.”
Since then, Manna Juice Bar has seen its social media campaigns taking off, thanks to Dominick’s experience in visual media. They grew their social media platforms to over 10,000 followers.
So what makes Manna Juice Bar’s products so unique?
“There’s no preservatives or sugar added to the juice; it’s just 3 to 5 pounds of produce in every 16-ounce bottle,” says Kristi.
Some people drink cold-press juices to reset their body or detox, while others use them as a meal supplement.
“We don’t carry any animal products in our store,” explains Kristi. “There’s no dairy, cheese, or meat, so technically, we are a vegan restaurant. We have vegan granola and vegan bread also.”
While Manna Juice Bar satisfies customers with its healthy alternatives, Kristi notes something is on the way for those with a sweet tooth, just in time for summer.
“We’re looking to do our own vegan dairy-free ice cream. We’re super excited about that. We’ll have pints and scoopable options available where you can top it with fruit and put it in a vegan waffle bowl. It will be our sweet treat for the summer,” says Kristi.
But customers don’t have to wait for summer to get a sweet deal. To celebrate National Beverage Day on May 6, Manna Juice Bar is offering special pricing on some of its most popular items: $5 smoothies and 15% off of juice cleanses.
Customers can order online at www.drinkmannajuice.com or visit Mansfield’s Manna Juice Bar at 3806 East Broad Street.