Courtesy of Cristian Stowers/Stowers Photography
Brandace Johnson plans to open a juice bar in Ferguson next year.
B Juiced—Johnson's line of handcrafted, raw, organic cold-pressed juices—will expand to a brick-and-mortar, slated to open on April 1 at 605 S. Florissant. The decision comes after Johnson was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from UMSL Accelerate.
In addition to juices, smoothies, and smoothie bowls, the juice bar will offer a small menu with such dishes as avocado toast, waffles, and salads.
Photo by Merton Johnson
Jada Huffman, Dan Lauer, and Brandace Johnson
The Business
Prior to applying for the UMSL Accelerate program, Johnson had been selling B Juiced out of a trailer at the Ferguson Farmers' Market and events across North County.
In late 2020, after Johnson got COVID-19, she sought out juices while recovering. Although she found a juice bar that delivered, the company didn’t deliver to her neighborhood near UMSL's campus. Johnson decided to make her own juices and ensure they would be available in areas where there are fewer healthy options, such as Ferguson.
About a year into operations, Jada Huffman, a friend from middle school, joined Johnson as a business partner, and it’s been a “two-woman show” ever since.
Courtesy of Cristian Stowers/Stowers Photography
With a background in health coaching, Johnson says she’s been “very intentional about creating juices that support the body. Taste is one thing, but I want our juices to a have a healing impact.” To that end, she worked with a holistic health nutritionist to develop the juices.
Ingredients are organic and locally sourced, when possible, from such sources as Ferguson-based Earth Dance Farms, which shares a vision of providing healthy food in food deserts.
Among the options, in addition to juice cleanse packages:
- bImmune: The most popular juice, especially during winter, it's made from yellow bell pepper, turmeric, pineapple, pear, lemon, coconut water, and ginger.
- bRestored: spinach, apple, cucumber, fennel, basil, and lemon
- bHappy: carrot, apple, ginger, lemon, and cinnamon
B Juiced is currently available from the website, with pickups on Saturdays in the parking lot of the Ferguson Farmers' Market. Johnson also plans to sell juices at the Ferguson Winter Market beginning in February. Customers can follow B Juiced on social media for details about pop-up events as well.
The Accelerator
Johnson decided to expand to a brick-and-mortar after she recently won a $50,000 grant from UMSL Accelerate as part of the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Accelerator, which includes an eight-week business program for underrepresented entrepreneurs. "We’ve provided 17 underrepresented founders in the region with $50,000 non-dilutive capital grants and contributed to an increase in enrollment," says Dan Lauer, UMSL Accelerate’s founder and executive director. "Our intention is for UMSL to be the first choice for entrepreneurially-minded students while improving societal outcomes."
A friend of Johnson’s had told her about the program. More than 800 entrepreneurs have applied to participate in the DEI Accelerator since its inception, including more than 200 this year. After applying and making it to the top 15, Johnson had to develop a pitch. Johnson knew that she had to “be authentic, tell my story, and share my passion,” she says.
The strategy paid off. Johnson was named as one of six people in the third cohort of the program. “This is a special group with a lot of potential," Lauer says. "The $50,000 awarded to our participating founders is a game-changer that can move them through several milestones. In evaluating candidates, we look at what problem they are solving, their solution and how it is different, and whether the founders are committed—mindset matters. B Juiced is providing a needed, desired product in an area often overlooked by similar businesses."
“I am so grateful to be selected,” says Johnson, adding that the grant will help fund building out the space and purchasing equipment, such as a new juicer. “Everything is falling into place.”
Courtesy of Cristian Stowers/Stowers Photography
