Itay Sopher and Vadim Hammud prepare to open Pure Bar on Main Street, adjacent to the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance and in front of 50 Coins. —Steve Coulter photo
Healthy food can taste good — that’s the mantra Itay Sopher believes will make his new salad and juice bar become a staple in downtown Ridgefield.
Mr. Sopher will open Pure Bar, 426 Main Street, adjacent to the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance and in front of 50 Coins, early next week.
“I think choice matters — a customer should try what they want to try,” he said. “I want people to be open-minded when they come in and try things out, but really they should get what they like.”
In addition to an all-organic “build your own” salad and juice bar, the store will offer smoothies, tea, energy bars, nutritional health kits, and juice-based cleanses that are said to remove food allergens and restore vital minerals that help heal the body.
Originally from Israel, Mr. Sopher moved to Connecticut three years ago and worked selling cosmetic products before deciding he wanted to start his own business.
“I’ve always been into a healthy style of living, and I started juicing two years ago as a hobby,” he said. “Around that time I had this idea for a salad and juice bar and I told myself to start saving money, and here I am.”
Mr. Sopher lives in Danbury and found out about Ridgefield from friends in the area.
“I wanted to do some research and make sure that this was the right place,” he said. “It didn’t take long for me to really like the town and then I found this spot …
“People can actually see you here — we’re totally visible for everyone coming through,” he said.
For now he will operate the shop with his business partner, Vadim Hammud, and one other employee.
The partners are both from Israel but met here in the United States through a mutual interest in healthy eating.
“He really liked the concept,” Mr. Sopher said. “He’s lost a lot of weight by juicing and we want to help others get healthier.”
Besides weight loss, he said, juicing — extracting juice from plant tissues such as fruit and vegetables — helps the immune system and improves mental health.
He declined to recommend a favorite juice because he wants customers to decide for themselves.
“There will be a menu to give a little direction, but customers can choose what they want to choose,” he said. “It’s important that they have that choice.”
He believes that choice will make eating healthier more enjoyable for his customers.
“The general thought is that healthy foods can’t be as tasty as other foods, but I promise that you can make salads and juices just as tasty as anything you eat or drink,” he said. “We’ll make recommendations, but I’m open-minded and want people to get what they want to eat — not something I tell them to eat.”
Besides the salad and juice combinations, customers may choose from a number of teas, from Galilee Tisanes — herbal teas meant for weight loss, helping the dietary tract and removing harmful substances from the body — as well as smoothies.
“They can put whatever they want in the smoothie, it’ll just be thicker than the juice,” Mr. Sopher explained. “The kids will like the smoothies, but this really is a place for anyone who wants to be healthy.”
The all-organic produce ingredients will be delivered from New York City daily, he said.
Also available are juice cleanses and health kits that Mr. Sopher said can rest and repair the stomach, improve energy and eliminate any harmful leftover substances in the body.
As part of the cleanse, customers will drink six juices a day. Before taking part in a cleanse, customers should have a light diet that consists primarily of only organic fruits and vegetables. Alcohol, caffeine and sugar processed foods should be avoided.
Mr. Sopher said the cleanses will cost $75 and that customers won’t need to return to the store to keep getting the products.
The health kits will include a variety of the protein bars, teas and ingredients that are used to make the juices, such as nuts, vegetables and fruits.
“They can take it all out the door with them,” he said.
Mr. Sopher said that for now his business will be open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
He looks forward to introducing his organic variety of products to everyone in town.
“We will become healthier together,” he said.