DINING FEATURE
BUILDING A MEAL Jugo’s guests can customize a 20-ounce smoothie ($7.50) .
1. CHOOSE A BASE • banana, strawberry • mango • peach, pineapple 2. CHOOSE 1 LIQUID • almond milk • apple juice • coconut milk
• banana, cinnamon and cold brew co ee
Acai bowls ($9.25) are customizable.
COURTESY JUGO
• orange juice • pineapple juice
3. CHOOSE 1 SUPERFOOD • bee pollen • cacao nibs • chia seeds • coconut akes 4. CHOOSE 1 SWEETENER • agave
• ax seeds • hemp seeds • goji berries
Jugo o ers nine smoothie varieties, including Viva La Berry ($7.50), with strawberry, blueberry and blackberry.
• honey
David Padilla owns Jugo, which has seven juice, acai bowls and smoothie stores in Texas, with ve in the San Antonio area and plans for more expansion in 2023.
Jugo A Alon Town Centre 10003 NW Military Hwy., Ste. 2114, San Antonio 210-259-8613 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. B Bitters Crossing 2602 N. Loop 1604 W., Ste. 109, San Antonio 210-267-1560 Hours: Mon.-Sun., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. www.jugousa.com
EDMOND ORTIZ COMMUNITY IMPACT
COURTESY JUGO
Jugo North San Antonio juice and smoothie bar serves up healthier options I n late 2019, David Padilla began applying nearly 20 years of experience in the food and BY EDMOND ORTIZ
“We’re all about health and wellness in our products, and we’re consistent because we keep the menu simple,” he said. Padilla said Jugo outlasted COVID-19’s nancial e ects, deliv- ering products to a growing number of supporters who have helped the company expand to ve total San Antonio-area locations, including Bitters Road and Loop 1604. “That’s how we survived the pandemic—with support from local friends and family—and the commu- nity got behind us,” he said. Padilla said customers appreciate the smoothie options; the menu features nine di erent bases to customize a smoothie. Patrons wanting a superfood bowl
can buy a prebuilt 16-ounce bowl or build their own bowl, choosing from base options, such as acai, coconut, pitaya, matcha, mango or blue magic, a spirulina extract derivative. “A lot of companies blend their base, so it’s more liquid, like soft serve, and ours is more like an ice cream consistency,” he said. Jugo’s juices come in eight 16-ounce varieties, but for $28 a customer can purchase a ight of four varieties. While the company looks to expand, Padilla said his focus is on ne-tuning the Jugo brand through community events and fundraisers. “We’re promoting a healthier alternative to what’s out there,” he said.
beverage industry toward purchas- ing, rebranding and relaunching Jugo Juicery as Jugo, which mean juice in Spanish. He started with the Alon Town Centre location in north central San Antonio. “My family really loves acai bowls; the kids love them, and that’s what drove me to pursue this,” Padilla said. Featuring an array of fresh superfood bowls, smoothies and cold-pressed juices, Jugo set out to show how eating and drinking healthy can be tasty, Padilla said.
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NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION • NOVEMBER 2022
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