Alex and Madison Kamakas always wanted to start a business of their own. It wasn’t until after moving from Chicago to St. Louis, however, that the couple decided to open a fast, healthy option: a local franchise of Main Squeeze Juice Co., slated to open at 310 N. Euclid in early June.
What drew the duo to open a franchise location of the New Orleans-based juice and smoothie bar company was that there are not currently any in the St. Louis market. Alex, who says they hope to open four locations over the next several years, explains that the company was the perfect size—not too large and not too small—and emphasizes that the brand puts an emphasis on service.
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“That customer experience is huge for us,” says Madison. “The first time we walked into a Main Squeeze, it was just warm and inviting, and we wanted to be there—that’s the biggest part. Even for people who are really not knowledgeable about nutrition, that comfortable space makes this much less intimidating.”
The menu is filled with nutritionist-designed, superfood-inspired options, including several bowls and toasts, with a binder in the store listing nutritional information.
All of the produce is fresh and cold-pressed in the back of the store. Alex explains that they follow a juice schedule, using a juicer that’s the “size of a couch.” There are no added preservatives, and nothing is pasteurized. Each bottle of juice contains three to five pounds of produce. In addition, the almond milk is pressed in-house. No ice is added to the smoothies, with the base being frozen bananas. Alex says the resulting smoothies are dense, almost a “meal replacement” type of smoothie.
Main Squeeze also offers free samples of its juices. Alex’s favorite? The glow juice (a combination of apple, cucumber, kale, lemon, and spinach). Madison prefers the detox juice (a mixture of filtered water, lemon, agave, and activated charcoal), as well as the green juices and almond milk. They both enjoy the smoothies.
“[Main Squeeze] is like nothing we’ve ever tried,” he says. “We’re fairly confident that if you try it, you’re going to like it.”
