Brittany Lawrence is bringing healthy, holistic options to Zachary
Photo by Collin Richie
Healthy eating and the beverage community in Baton Rouge is growing. From juice shops to vegan restaurants, conscious consumers now have many options for buying nutritious foods and lifestyle products. While the state capital has made significant progress, the same cannot always be said of the Baton Rouge region.
Brittany Lawrence is a native of Zachary who struggled to find healthy food in her neighborhood. Until Zen-Jus opened on Zachary’s main street in 2020, the mother of three had to drive up to 30 minutes to get organic groceries and herbal foods.
Since its opening, Zen-Jus has become a convenient store for people to pick up cold-pressed juices, coffee drinks, vegetable milks and alkaline foods, and vegan herbal foods.
The holistic store also sells body products without locally made chemicals, incense, sage, essential oils, natural vitamins and alternative medicines.
Lawrence makes all the freshly squeezed juices at home. Zen-Jus has eight juices on the menu, including customers’ favorites Open Heart Beets, which is made with beets, carrots, apples, lime and ginger; Let it Flow, made with kale, spinach and celery; and Energize, made with apples, carrots, lemons and ginger. Customers can order juices in sizes ranging from 16 to 32 ounces. Those who want to do a three-day juice cleanse can order 18 bottles of juice, drinking about six bottles a day.
Lawrence wanted to create a one-stop shop for people looking for plant-based foods, natural household items, and local gifts. The 34-year-old did not want to do it alone and wanted to offer other local shops without a shop window a space to share their products. Before Lawrence opened his store doors, he sold cold-pressed fresh juices at Zachary’s farmers market along with many of the companies that are now the sellers of his stores.
“About 75% of the products we carry are from other local companies and 90% of the companies are owned by blacks,” says Lawrence.
Local products include Ellie Mae’s Elderberry Elderberry Syrup; Adornleaf Tea Co Herbal Tea .; Mountain Pure CBD CBD Oil; Lyfestyle Naturals sea moss ice and drinks; Beluga Bliss essential oil blends; and The Golden Vegan’s vegan meals.
He describes the small business community focused on health as a family and says that his network is more like a brotherhood. Lawrence strives to continue to share his space with other local businesses, inspire other black and female entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams, and promote a healthy, conscious lifestyle. zen-jus.square.site
This article was originally published in the January 2022 issue of the journal 225.
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