It seems like a Little Debbie Christmas tree cake in liquid type – it’s even topped with these purple and inexperienced sprinkles. It tastes like a Little Debbie cake, however the shake I order at Downtown Vitamin in Canonsburg will not be, actually, a Little Debbie cake.
“They appear responsible,” mentioned Jessica Salko, who formally opened Downtown Vitamin in Canonsburg Sept. 18, with amusing.
The decadent concoctions crafted by Salko and her employees extra intently resemble handspun milkshakes than protein shakes, however the meal replacements – which may completely be loved as dessert, if one so chooses – clock in at fewer than 300 energy.
They’re bursting with nutritional vitamins and minerals, together with 24 grams of protein.
And the shakes aren’t the one scrumptious menu merchandise Salko serves up in her stylish, minimalist storefront alongside West Pike Avenue.
“They need to order their stackers,” Salko mentioned. “They arrive in right here, go, ‘Oh, that is nice. That may get me by means of the week!’”
Stackers are to-go tea concentrates prospects add water and ice to on days they don’t have time to swing downtown. Salko additionally presents cold and hot natural teas that include totally different nutritional vitamins and minerals, and are 24 energy.
All drinks are personalized to satisfy prospects’ diet wants.
“I felt that we simply actually wanted well being right here,” mentioned Salko. “You have got a whole lot of quick meals locations. I believe the group is blissful that it’s right here. You must have the comfort of this sort of factor.”
Salko has at all times been into health. She grew up enjoying softball, enjoys understanding and consuming comparatively wholesome. Proudly owning a wellness membership in downtown Canonsburg, nonetheless, was by no means in her plans.
However then the pandemic occurred, and the federal government shutdowns prolonged into the therapeutic massage remedy world.
“I cherished the profession, I had nice purchasers, but it surely was simply time,” mentioned Salko, who was a self-employed therapeutic massage therapist for eight years. “I assumed, how do I maintain a profession? I used to be like, I’ve to do one thing. I didn’t need to wrestle each time there was an issue. You may nonetheless choose up and take out drinks, so if we ever have a shut down once more, this may work.”
In October 2020, Salko traveled south to Georgia, the place buddies launched her to a Downtown Vitamin wellness membership. She was impressed by the membership’s huge, health-centered menu.
After researching the enterprise mannequin, Salko believed she would get the help she wanted from the Georgia-based community to efficiently convey Downtown Vitamin to the small-town music capital of the world.
Simpler mentioned than performed, contemplating COVID-19.
Constructing, Salko mentioned, “was a nightmare.”
“The timing was unhealthy, simply fighting the pandemic. By the point I discovered a spot to lease … delays with supplies, contractor issues – you’ll be able to’t discover folks proper now,” she mentioned. “I completed a few of the construct out myself. It’s been an expertise.”
An expertise Salko would do over once more, she mentioned, as a result of working Downtown Vitamin is rewarding. Salko welcomes people from all walks of life into her house and is having enjoyable attending to know regulars.
“I’ve had possibly 5 folks to date since I’ve opened say that they’ve truly misplaced some weight simply from substituting this as their lunch or breakfast,” she mentioned. “I really feel like, oh, wow, I helped, which is cool.”
Salko didn’t notice simply how a lot Canonsburg was lacking a spot that gives “quick meals for wholesome folks,” which is the shop’s slogan. Within the three months her doorways have been open, Salko has heard nothing however constructive issues from her prospects.
“Individuals actually wanted this,” she mentioned, closing up for the day on a current weekday afternoon. “They wanted a change of their day by day diet. They just like the stuff.”
And Salko likes serving the group, whose help, she mentioned, has been great.
“Individuals are beginning to get the phrase out, share the posts,” she mentioned, noting Downtown Vitamin is on Fb and Instagram. These on social media know Salko, whose storefront is embellished for Christmas, works onerous serving the group in multiple means.
Proper now, she is gathering donations for each Senior Hearts Rescue and Renewal Group and Washington Space Humane Society whereas planning a product line growth.
In January, Salko will ring within the new 12 months with membership most popular members who can be a part of a two-week weight reduction problem – you don’t should be a most popular member to drop by for a shake, although. She’s wanting ahead to providing new merchandise, together with a fats reducer and a magnificence line, in 2022.
However till the ball drops, Salko shall be slinging indulgently healthful drinks for Canonsburg and past.
“I nonetheless have lots to study. You simply need to attempt to make everybody blissful. I’m likeing the problem,” she mentioned. “It’s been an excellent three months.”