Grand opening celebration
Urban Roots holds ribbon-cutting ceremony for new eatery in Saratoga
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Healthy juice, smoothies, and avocado toast are all available at new local eatery Urban Roots.
Located in the plaza at 46 Marion Ave. in Saratoga Springs, Urban Roots celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday during a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
The juice, smoothie and avocado bar, owned and operated by business partners Brandon Acres and Allen Caruso, opened in October to quick success.
“We unlocked our doors one day and it just took off,” Caruso said.
The business serves a variety of cold-pressed juices, smoothies, açai bowls and avocado toasts that customers can enjoy at Urban Roots or take to go.
The menu features locally sourced, fair trade and organic ingredients and has options for vegan, vegetarian, paleo and keto diets.
“We really want to focus on organic, fair trade, locally sourced products as much as we possibly can,” Caruso said.
Urban Roots aims to be a farm to mouth, grab-and-go eatery where customers can get back to their roots.
The idea for this business started in February during a meal at local brewpub Druthers. Caruso and Acres were chowing down on buffalo chicken pizzas and beer while talking about their frustrations with the lack of on-the-go health food in the area.
“That’s really a need that we saw in Saratoga,” Acres said.
Over the next few months, the pair brainstormed and researched before making the decision to create a business that would give Saratogians another option.
In addition to different food choices, Urban Roots has a unique vibe as well. “We try to create an atmosphere that isn’t typical of that of a juice bar,” Acres said, calling it modern, clean and high energy. “I think people are really drawn to that and really enjoying it.”
Over the last several weeks, Urban Roots has already made quite a few regulars. One is Saratoga Springs resident KrisJon Klopstock, who was enjoying a meal there on Tuesday morning. “I love it,” Klopstock said. “It’s clean, delicious food.” His favorite menu item is the Avocado and Salmon, which is sourdough toast topped with avocado mash, smoked salmon, pickled onions, capers, hard boiled egg, and black sesame seeds.
For newcomers, Acres recommends trying the Avocado and Burrata, made with multigrain toast, avocado mash, an avocado rose, burrata, pistachio dukkah and basil infused oil.
From the drink menu, one of the most popular orders at Urban Roots is the Mr. Rogers smoothie, which incorporates nitro coffee from neighboring business Kru Coffee. Other ingredients in the smoothie are organic cacao nibs, almond butter, banana, raw cocoa, and raw coconut sugar.
Looking ahead, the owners plan to expand by opening additional Urban Roots locations, Caruso shared. “We really want to focus on making organic, healthier, clean food accessible to communities outside of major metropolitan areas,” he said, “but this will always be