Taste the blendsation of Keva Juice, a smoothie shop now located across the street from the UNM campus.
Nestled in the Brick Light District, next to Satellite Coffee and Brickyard Pizza, the new shop offers an array of smoothies, such as the Hawaiian Holiday and the Razmanian Devil.
Made with fresh fruits, sherbet and nonfat frozen yogurt, the smoothies are a healthy option for college students who often rely on hamburgers and french fries for nutrition, store manager Randi Valdez said.
"We try to provide a healthier meal choice for our customers," she said. "We are all about giving them healthy options that also taste great, too."
Valdez, who is a junior at UNM, first started working with the company as a sophomore in high school.
"I really enjoy the positive atmosphere," she said. "You look forward to going to work every day because of the energetic and happy people that you work with. It's such a positive energy to surround yourself with."
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When entering the store, employees quickly greet customers with an energetic "Welcome to Keva Juice," and say goodbye with a "Have a Keva-rific day."
Kaila Jones, a UNM student and employee at the shop, said Keva Juice provides a friendly atmosphere.
"I've worked everywhere from Wendy's and Sonic to Whole Foods," she said. "By far, Keva Juice is the best job I've had. All of the staff gets along, and we hang out on a regular basis. It's like working with friends, not coworkers."
Robin Baumgart, also a UNM student and Keva Juice employee, said she enjoys the company of her coworkers.
"I am usually a babysitter," she said. "For me, it's so fun to come to work and be able to talk and socialize not only with other Keva tribe members, but also with customers."
Keva Juice has 11 locations around Albuquerque. The company has 53 stores in 12 states.
Valdez, who is majoring in business and nutrition, said Keva Juice is the right fit for her.
"I go to work and learn about managing a business and nutrition firsthand every day," she said. "Becoming a manager, I've had the opportunity to develop leadership skills through on-the-job experience."
The smoothie shop also offers wheat grass shots in addition to the scrumptious smoothies, Valdez said.
"No college student eats their recommended daily amount of vegetables," she said. "This is an easy way to get all of your vegetables - one ounce of wheat grass is supposed to equal 2 1/2 pounds of vegetables. And it's a shot, so it's quick and painless."
Valdez said the franchise's newest addition to its menu is fresh, young coconuts.
"Coconuts are a new super food," she said. "They are great for the immune system, and they help you maintain weight and lose weight. We drill a hole into the coconut, add a straw, and it's the sweetest milk you've ever tasted."
Valdez said she is excited about the new location near campus.
"I can't wait for school to start and to meet all the students coming in," she said. "I think Keva Juice has the potential to be a fun hangout, and we're certainly excited about opening our doors to the UNM community."
