From 'juice closet' to national chain, healthy juice bar comes to Palm Beach County

With over 100 locations across the country, Pressed Juicery is making its first move into the Sunshine State.

That foray into Florida has led the health-minded chain into the heart of Boca Raton, where it opens a location Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the Town Center mall.

Known for cold-pressed juices, plant-based milks and even a vegan frozen treat, the concept began in 2010 when founders and friends Hayden Slater, Hedi Gores and Carly de Castro got together to form a business plan.

With a shared belief that quality nutrition direct from nature was the cornerstone of health, they began their journey. Not exactly starting out with a bang, they began creating their initial products in what they described as a 25-square-foot "juice closet" in Los Angeles.

Critic's choice + staff favorites: Best restaurants in Palm Beach County in 2023

Though starting small, the health-focused lifestyle of many people in Southern California fueled their progress and they soon began selling out of a food truck in Malibu. They continued gaining momentum and eventually opened their first brick-and-mortar store in the Brentwood suburb of Los Angeles.

From those humble beginnings, Pressed Juicery now operates 114 stores and sells at more than 3,000 major retailers around the country, including Sprouts and Whole Foods Market.

More: Bucket list: 55 fun must-try things to do in Palm Beach County

What makes the juices at Pressed Juicery so good?

Not squeezed, ground up and strained or even extracted, the juices at Pressed Juicery are pretty much what the brand's name implies: cold-pressed from fruits and vegetables.

According to senior vice president of brand Andrei Najjar, this process enables them to capture the highest amount of nutrients and it also gives the juice a shelf life of up to 60 days with the least amount of nutrient degradation.

The method also allows Pressed juices to be shipped around the country without preservatives while retaining the maximum amount of nutrition and the same taste as if it had just been pressed.

Pressed Juicery products are made in the chain's Fresno, Ca. factory, which is adjacent to the farms that grow the fruits and vegetables in their products.

In addition to being directly farm to factory, Najjar stressed that they use a lot of "imperfect" fruits and vegetables. Not rotten or unripe, "imperfect" is just produce that might not look like the ideal carrot, beet or apple, but is perfectly good and still packed with nutrition and flavor. These are pieces that might get looked past in a grocery store produce section and be wasted.

Broken down as much by function as flavors, Pressed offers green juices, roots juices, and citrus and fruit products designed for cleanses, fasts, wellness shots, smoothies, non-dairy milks, acai bowls and more.

Some of the fruits and vegetables used in the chain's products include apples, oranges, lemons, beets, pineapples, cucumber, grapefruit, mangoes, strawberries, avocado, bananas, elderberries, coconuts, pomegranates and monk fruit, along with herbs and spices such as basil, turmeric, ginger, sea salt, mint and others.

One of their most popular products is the Freeze. This plant-based soft-serve is designed for ice cream lovers who aren't into dairy or sugar. They have three flavors (chocolate, vanilla and acai) and they are made from fruits, vegetables, nuts, coconut milk, oat milk, agave syrup, tapioca syrup and sea salt. They contain no chemicals or stabilizers.

More: Owners of popular Peruvian restaurant open second spot in West Palm Beach's Northwood

There are also multiple toppings to choose from to make it just a bit more decadent (yet still healthy).

Some of these include shredded coconut, sliced almonds, fresh fruits and even their chocolate chip cookie crumble (vegan, gluten free) or vegan gummy bears.

When asked why Boca Raton was their first choice upon venturing into Florida, Najjar said it was a strategic decision and that they always look to high-end areas with people who are focused on their health. He added that all Pressed Juices are certified Kosher (Pareve) through the Orthodox Union and that they are gluten and dairy Free.

Hungry for more restaurant news?

Here's how to stay up-to-date with your local dining scene: follow our food & dining writer, Liz Balmaseda on Twitter @LizBalmaseda, Instagram at @silkpalm or sign up for our free weekly foodie newsletter, At the Table.

Pressed Juicery in Boca Raton

Where: Town Center at Boca Raton, 6000 Glades Road, Boca Raton

Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday

Information: pressed.com/ 561-990-1932

Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Pressed Juicery opening at Town Center at Boca Raton