The Juice Craze

THE MENU AT GROWL JUICE PUB LOCATED IN ORANGE.

PHOTO CREDITS: LILLY PANDIS

Story bThea Knobel

Crop tops. Flash tats. Twerking. The trend that’s got everyone buzzing: Juicing. 

“It’s like heaven in my mouth,” said Sophia Stewart, a freshman public relations and advertising major. 

Juicing and fruit smoothie bowls have risen in popularity in Southern California due to an emphasis on healthy, raw foods that are packed full of vitamins. Places offering these smoothie-esque treats in SoCal include Nektar, Bonzai Bowl, IncrediBOWLZ and Growl Juice Pub. 

Growl Juice Pub, which opened in July 2013, is one of the newer shops in Old Towne Orange Circle, amidst rows of antique shops and established restaurants. Growl is located just a block and a half away from Chapman University.  The owner is a Chapman grad and more than ¾ of employees are Chapman students.

“Mainly as an entrepreneur my focus lies within creating positive impact,” said the owner Josh Nichols. “I saw the need for real, organic, and truly healthy products that could change lives. Then Growl was born.”

Many Chapman students frequent the juice pub. The proximity allows for quick trips in between classes or mid-study snacks.

“Growl really builds a sense of community,” said Taylor Dwyer, a junior history major. “I always run into someone from Chapman when I’m there.”

Growl targets students with ever changing specials such as Thirsty Thursdays, where after 6 p.m. there is a 10% discount. It’s not only the specials that attract customers but also the plethora of social media posts. 

“I see an Instagram of a Growl acai bowl every other day,” said Mia Sander, a sophomore public relations and advertising major.

Some students choose to go to Growl over on campus Jamba Juice. Jamba Juice has recently added acai bowls to its smoothie menu to keep up with the trends. 

“Jamba Juice uses added sugars and Growl doesn’t,” said Elly Bannon, a junior theatre technology major. “I would rather walk a little extra to get a healthier option.” 

And the competition for Chapman students’ attention is getting heated.

“One time a man came and started asking questions about our process and how we run our more behind the scenes stuff,” said Dan Burton, a Growl employee. “He had a Jamba Juice button down on. Maybe he was a spy?” 

While some are juice fanatics, not everyone is jumping on the juice-wagon.

Although juicing allows one to intake a condensed amount of nutrients, it isn’t a substitute for eating whole fruits and vegetables. In the juicing process often times the fiber is lost.

“Why would I drink my vegetables when I could just eat them. It loses the quality, texture, and taste,” said Galya Cohen, a junior psychology major. 

Some college students feel like Growl’s options are too expensive. 

“I’m on a budget. I’m not going to pay that much when I can use panther bucks on campus,” said Madeline Rose, a sophomore television writing and production major.

A Circle Sunrise, Growl’s signature bowl, costs $9.00. Regardless of price, some students feel it’s worth it to splurge for their health.

“I would rather spend money here on a local business than wasting it on alcohol,” said Dwyer.

Maybe a few years ago you would cringe at the thought of kale, beets, and ginger mixed together into one juice. But now you’re a Southern California student. It’s healthy. It’s trendy. Will you try it? 

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