Fawaz a ‘smoothie-plus’ operator

Java Juice Box now at Northshore

Mark Fawaz, who owns a Java Juice Box in downtown Knoxville, opened his second location at 9420 S. Northshore Drive, near Kroger, Saturday, Sept. 14. In addition to juices and smoothies, Java Juice Box also offers smoothie and acai bowls such as the smoothie bowl he is displaying.
Java Juice Box brings a new concept in juice bars to Northshore Drive, its second location in Knox County, which opened Saturday, Sept. 14.

Not only does it serve cold-pressed juices and smoothies, it also carries smoothie bowls, açai bowls and gourmet toasts at 9420 S. Northshore Drive, near Kroger.

“Our most famous thing here is our smoothie bowls,” owner Mark Fawaz said, adding they are basically a thick smoothie in a bowl with fruit toppings on it where it can be eaten with a spoon.

“You can do any toppings,” he added. “We also offer smoothies — and everything that goes in smoothies is made in house. We make our own almond milk, our own coconut milk. We make it all here.

Of note, “We don’t use any powder foods,” Fawaz said. “We don’t even use ice; we basically use frozen fruits and vegetables.

“We also started offering gourmet toasts,” he added. “We have avocado toast, we have Nutella toast” among the selections.

Fawaz pointed out one of the biggest reasons for the business was its cold-pressed juices.

“For the longest time, we were the only people in town to do it,” he said, adding his varieties “range from sweet to spicy to earthy to green.”

This winter, patrons also might expect to find soups on the menu as well.

Java Juice Box is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays.

For more information, visit www.javajuicebox.com