Dash and Joey's officially open downtown
Two dogs, Dash and Joey, move to Lima, OH. Their owner decided to open a juice and smoothie bar, which was named after them, and it was so popular they decided to open another in Wapakoneta.
If you're waiting for a punchline, it's not coming. It's not a joke because that's exactly what happened when Dash & Joey's Gourmet Smoothies and Juices opened it's second store at 110 W. Auglaize St. The smoothie and juice bar officially opened on Friday following a soft opening Aug. 24.
Their owner, Chad Endsley, came up with the idea after realizing there weren't juice bars like it.
This was a problem for a native Californian accustomed to juice and smoothie bars the same way people from Seattle were accustomed to a Starbucks on every other street or how people in Wisconsin could find a Culver's in any town.
"Basically I've grown up in California, juice bars … on the west coast, they're everywhere," Ensley said. "They're on every corner. It's almost like how pizza is here."
After taking his wife - a native of Lima - to California, Endsley was struck by how much she loved juice bars.
"She said, ' hey, you should do one in Lima,'" Endsley added.
He was skeptical, but ready to try it after considering the lack of juice bar options in smaller, rural areas.
"I said, ' if I'm going to stay here and put my roots down, then I kind of want to do something that I enjoy and that I like," Endsley said. "I know there are plenty of people around here, and in
Wapak and surrounding areas that feel the same way. That they want to have something that is fresh and that they know what is in their food."
To Endsley, it was important because he was tired of the 3045 minute drives.
"I'm trying to get people to … know that we can bring stuff to smaller towns, just like Wapak, bring stuff to them so they don't have to travel," he added.
"I just saw a need for it," he said. "I was actually working out at the Wapak Athletic Club for about a year when it was downtown. Working out, when I got done I'd go to J Marie's sometimes, there was never really anything for me to eat, so that's how it ( Dash & Joey's) came into Wapak."
After getting to know local business owners, including Steve and Amy Ambrose, owners of Winans, Endsley believed Wapak was a natural fit here.
"I just like the people," he said. "The downtown was spreading. I love J Marie's and then he opened up Anthony's. I just liked it. I think the people, they want to support everything … So I said, ' you know what, I think it would be a good fit."
And if you're looking forward to seeing Endsley manning the blenders, don't get your hopes up, because Brandi Earley, Chad's sister- in- law, will be in charge of operations at the Wapakoneta store.
"It's great being in downtown Wapak," Earley said. "Everybody's extremely supportive so far. It's a great community and great people.
For those unfamiliar with juice bars, what should customers expect?
Freshness would be one word. Endsley quickly pointed out everything was made to order, ingredients were fresh and no sugar was added.
"Everything up there is ( something) you could make … yourself if you look at the menu. There's no hidden ingredients."