Recent Nicholls alumnus Brian Davis II and his girlfriend of five years, Lisette Pineda, were hoping to open their own business by last February 14. But Cupid’s arrow did not strike.
Difficulties organizing the shop postponed the celebration, but Davis said Valentine’s Day should become a day not forgotten at the small business. “Valentine’s Day has to be our big day,” Davis said, smiling. “With our love theme, it’s like Valentine’s day everyday over here.”
It would be difficult for anyone to argue that sentiment. The large red-painted lips on the windows, bright red walls, red and black alternating floor tiles, lip-shaped benches and the soft shiny red lip-shaped sofa would attest to it. Not to mention the lip-shaped telephone and the white pencil with a red lip eraser laying behind the counter.
Things didn’t quite work out by that special day, but Davis and Pineda in early March opened Smoochies Smoothies, a health-conscious eatery offering various all natural smoothie blends, healthy sandwiches and salads among other food items. Located at the southern end of the Rienzi Plaza behind La Casa del Sol at 315 N. Canal Blvd. in Thibodaux, the 26-year-old New Orleans natives opened the shop because of a restaurant gap in the area.
“Smoothie shops have always been very popular around universities,” Pineda said. “There was none around Nicholls or in Thibodaux at that time so we knew we had a chance to succeed.”
Located about four blocks from Nicholls, Pineda said the location is convenient for the Nicholls community. “Being that close is great,” she said. “We want to be connected to Nicholls and do the best we can to serve the students, faculty and staff along with the Thibodaux community.”
Pineda created the title “Smoochies Smoothies” while thinking of possible names that would be catchy and have a rhyme. Davis added to the creativity when he took a photograph of Pineda’s lips and sized it through an overhead projector onto a piece of wood. He used that pattern to create the design of the tables inside the eatery. “I just thought it was really cute,” Pineda said, smiling.
Opening the shop wasn’t always a smiling matter though. Since it was Davis’ final semester at Nicholls when Smoochies opened, his everyday life became hectic. Davis spent mornings in class and left immediately after to assist Pineda until 2 a.m. every day for more than a month preparing the shop for opening day. Pineda spent most of her time organizing the eatery in the mornings alone.
“I had to worry about graduation, then we worked endlessly to open this place. I was so exhausted by night’s end, and then I had to go back to school in the morning. It was a continuous cycle,” said Davis, who earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations in the spring.
Davis had a vision to open a smoothie shop for more than four years, but it only came to fruition when Pineda started looking for a new job. “One night, we just got frustrated and said, ‘Let’s go for it. Let’s start our own shop now,’ “
Davis said.
That they did. Davis would rely on the skills he learned in marketing classes at Nicholls, while Pineda leaned on her experience from Loyola University in New
Orleans. There, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business management. “It was very challenging because this was new for us since we had never done anything like this before,” Pineda said. “But our college experience helped.”
Most of all, the pair relied on their fervent Christian faith to get them through. Despite discouragement from the Thibodaux City Zoning Board that informed the couple of the pending opening of a Smoothie King nearby, the pair believed opening a smoothie shop was the right thing to do — and divinely appointed.
“We just knew that this is what God wanted for us,” Pineda said. “Finding the place and filling out the proper paperwork went so smoothly. There was no way we would back out because things started falling our way.”
Pineda said opening on Sundays to gain more business could be tempting, but the pair elects to close the shop Sundays to attend church. “It’s God’s day and also a day of rest,” Pineda said, claming the couple works about 90 hours per week. “We come back on Mondays re-energized to serve our customers the best we can.”
Customers won’t be disappointed because Smoochies has much to offer. Patrons can choose from a variety of all-natural fruit smoothies with love themes and catchy names. Some of those include: “Livin’ La Vida Mocha,” “Isle See U When I Smile,” “It Takes Two To Mango” and “Your Staw-Very Special,” among others.
Davis stresses that the smoothies are made from the actual fruit, instead of juices enriched with vitamins — a process chosen by other smoothie shop chains.
No syrups, concentrates, artificial flavors or sugars are added. Davis said he does not initially include powdered supplements such as protein in the smoothies, but can add it if a customer desires.
“We prep the fruit and peel it ourselves,” Davis said. “Then we throw them into the blender just like that. It’s like drinking a Fruitopia.”
Customers can also choose from a variety of low-fat, low-carbohydrate, sugar-free sandwiches and mixed green salads. All of the meats and cheese used in the sandwiches are sliced whole and not processed, eliminating large amounts of saturated fats.
While health is a concern for Davis and Pineda, they believe in having something for everyone. Those not wishing to pick from the health foods, can choose other food items such as meatball subs, pizza wraps, muffelata wraps and nachos among other items.
Fresh pastries and cakes baked by Pineda are also available along with ice cream treats and coffee drinks. Also included the menu are “Smoochies Sweet Kisses,” desert smoothies such as smores and cheesecake flavors.
Customers are not limited to the menu though. Many clients choose to create their own smoothie blends with the items available. “Making specialty orders are our pleasure,” Davis said. “It’s all about what our customers want.”
Smoochies provides banquet and catering services, and they offer a new delivery service with an order of at least $10. “If a Nicholls student wants to call us between classes and order a smoothie, we drive up to campus and drop it off for them,” Pineda said.
Davis estimated that the restaurant has about a thousand clients from word-of-mouth advertising, with many customers ordering three to four times a day. Students and faculty at Nicholls account for a large portion of the clientele, especially instructors from the English department, Davis said.
“Smoochies is one of the best and healthiest places around,” Jackie Jackson, instructor of languages and literature, said after she bought a salad Monday. “They are always on time and they have great customer service.”
Denise Alfred, teaching graduate assistant and health and physical education instructor, agrees with Jackson saying there’s no better place to enjoy a treat or meal. “I’m addicted to this place because it’s just so awesome. That’s really all I can say because it is.”
Besides offering food products, Smoochies has become a regular hang out spot for high school and college groups. Every Friday night, local Christian music bands from Nicholls perform at the shop. “We hope to expand and host more events like that,” Davis said.
Davis said he is pleased by the steady progression of the eatery’s success and it’s growing clientele, even since the opening of Smoothie King. He looks forward to a bright future. “We have quality health foods and cheap prices, and that will draw people here. But there’s nothing more rewarding than knowing you’ve worked hard to please customers. We care about them more than anything. That’s what it’s all about.”