Fashion District Gets Juiced
Hayden Slater, center, with team members Ian Harrison, left, and Koral Simpson, right
For 36 years, the woman most people called Mrs. Moon sold an odd assortment of sandwiches, apples, ice cream, hot dogs, cigarettes and batteries out of a space in the front lobby of the Cooper Design Space in the heart of the Los Angeles Fashion District.
But after all those years of standing on her feet dispensing ice cold soda pop and potato chips, Chan Moon decided she wanted to retire.
In her place comes a concession of a different nature. It is still food, but very healthy food. Or should I say it is juice, very healthy juice. About a month ago, Pressed Juicery moved into the lobby's concession area ready to make sure all those skinny models passing by get their nutrients. Now we have no excuse not to stay healthy.
Pressed Juicery's motto is "Get Back to Your Roots." It is easy to do if you buy their raw and unpasteurized juice concoctions produced with a hydraulic press. For $6.50 you can get a blend of greens, such as kale, spinach, romaine, parsley, cucumber and celery. Or for the same price you can swish down a roots blend of kale, spinach, romaine, parsley, cucumber, celery, beets and carrots. They also have a cleanse program.
Their signature beverages include things like a combination of almonds, dates, vanilla bean, filtered water and sea salt.
I happened to bump into one of the co-founders, Hayden Slater, who was checking on supplies. Hayden and his business partners, Hedi Gores and Carly Brien, opened their first Pressed Juicery in a 22-square-foot space at the Brentwood Town Center. "I think what people loved about this concept was it was a tiny little kiosk and it garnered some great attention," said Slater, who started his career working in the TV industry.
He said the pressed juice concept is big on the East Coast but no one, surprisingly, had tapped into it in a big way here. So a business was launched. When he heard a place was open at the Cooper Design Space, he felt it was the perfect fit. "I like the unique location. I think the Cooper Building is part of the Fashion District and a great old building."
Pressed Juicery has another location in West Hollywood and is planning to open in Studio City, Westwood, Montecito and Beverly Hills. They also have a mini truck that delivers.
