Healthful alternatives to popular sodas that have the same effect as those addictive, sugary drinks are hard to come by.
Fortunately, Greenwood has found a new way to satisfy this craving. Whether it be for a morning detox or healthy midday snack, the crowd often flocks to a particular shop at 409 W. Park Ave., Suite C, across the street from Greenwood Market Place.
Sweet Smoothie Bar has a diverse menu of tasty drinks anyone can enjoy. The pink-colored juice bar excels in quality, providing an inviting atmosphere and a friendly staff to match. It is open six days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Sweet Smoothie Bar is aesthetically pleasing not only to the eye but also to the taste buds.
In August of 2022, Duchess Dallas decided to open up shop in Greenwood. Her mother succumbed to cancer several years prior, and Dallas believed the cause of the cancer to be a result of the food her mother consumed. Shortly afterward, Dallas became a pescetarian.
Her diet mainly consisted of smoothies, but she noticed how there were “hardly any places to choose a healthy meal in Greenwood.” This prompted her to start up the Sweet Smoothie Bar so that not only she could have access to healthful food, but those in the community who suffer from various conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer could, too.
Before opening the smoothie bar, she worked as a corrections officer at a prison. Now 48 years old, Dallas is a full-time entrepreneur and owns the Duchess Spa Experience on 1709 Strong Ave., as well as a traveling spa, Babes2Beauties, while running her smoothie bar. Dallas said that she never thought that she would be a business owner. Sweet Smoothie Bar was a “vision that came to reality.”
As of now, their best sellers are the Tropical Breeze, a strawberry, mango and pineapple smoothie blend, and the personalized creamy acai bowls, which feature mango, dragon fruit, coconut and acai bases. The bowl comes with granola and three fruits of choice, as well as a spread, the most loved being the cookie butter spread. One of Dallas’ personal favorites is the Peanut Butter Banana smoothie bowl.
Customers aren’t limited to choosing a specific smoothie, however. They can build their own, choosing from a wide range of bases, fruits and vegetables.
One customer even commented online about how impressed she was with the menu, saying that the variety “made it easy to indulge in a guilt-free treat.” Another described her smoothie as natural, refreshing and light. Personal trainers often recommend the Sweet Smoothie Bar to their dieting clients to satisfy a sweet tooth without sacrificing nutrition. Because of this, the shop has become a hot spot for fitness enthusiasts alongside young adults.
The shop’s motto is “The Healthier the Sweeter,” stemming from the idea of being both physically and mentally healthy. “It shows from the inside out when you’re eating right,” said Dallas. “It makes you a sweet person. You want to take care of yourself to be the better version of yourself.”
The drink menu has expanded over the years, now offering a great deal of fair-like lemonade flavors, refresher drinks and even frappes. For their future spring and summer menu, the bar staff will train to make unique Red Bull drink combinations courtesy of The Vibe Coffee in Union Gap, Washington.
The Sweet Smoothie Bar is known not just for its drinks. The bar features delicious food options from gourmet avocado toast topped with two grilled eggs, organic tomatoes and a garnish of seasoning, to Caprese paninis with mozzarella cheese, basil, tomatoes and balsamic glaze. Additionally, customers can choose from a selection of other meals, such as peanut butter banana sandwiches and parfaits. Sweet Smoothie Bar also keeps the community’s pets in mind. Every Thursday, customers who drive their pups through the drive-through will receive a free pup cup, which is a small cup filled with whipped cream.
In the shop’s nook are a cozy lounge area and coffee bar. It’s furnished with comfortable seating and a small reading area in which to relax. The inspiration behind this corner stems from Dallas’ compassion for students. Having seen how some needed Wi-Fi in order to work, she decided to create a space where students can study, as well as a fun place for them to be introduced to healthful eating and education. In fact, all of the Sweet Smoothie Bar’s staff is composed of high school and college students, many of whom were former customers.
Dallas emphasizes wanting to reach out to the youth. Her Facebook page makes a direct appeal: “Healthy eating habits are more likely to stay with you if you learn them as a child.” At the start of Sweet Smoothie Bar’s launch, the staff would get together and host interactive story times for children in the community.
Dallas is very thankful for her customers. She enjoys interacting with them, saying that she is always excited when someone walks in. According to Dallas, many customers even ask for her specifically to make their order.
“I’m so grateful,” said Dallas in regard to her customers. “They don’t have to be here, and they’re the reason why we’re still in business.”
With hopes of franchising the business, she plans to open a second location in Indianola.
- This article first appeared in Leflore Illustrated, a quarterly magazine published by The Greenwood Commonwealth.
