New Smoothie Place Proposed For Connecticut Shopping Center

(Monday, June 05, 2006) - Fans of smoothies may soon have a new hangout spot. A special permit and site plan application for Robeks -- Fruit Smoothies & Healthy Eats was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday night.


Robeks is proposed for the Compo Acres Shopping Center, in the area of the former Beacon Lamp Shop. Planning consultant Melvin Barr is hoping the zoning board will approve a request to convert the space from retail to fast food restaurant.


Robeks is hoping to succeed where others on the south side of Compo Shopping Center have not. Boston Market and Sierra Grille once occupied space along the strip and Sierra Grille's run was rather short. The former Boston Market and Sierra Grille space has since reverted back to retail. Robeks is also looking to succeed not far from where another smoothie-focused business, Health Fast Juice Bar, 238 Post Road E., recently closed down.


The parking situation around Health Fast, however, was not ideal. Spaces adjacent to the business were for another property and the nearest parking lot required customers to walk uphill. Exiting left onto the Post Road out of the parking lot -- located near the intersection of Post Road and Imperial Avenue -- also proved difficult.


The parking situation for Robeks, if approved, would be much better. There is plenty of parking in the shopping center and no uphill trek is required. Parking is available in front of the business and in back of the business. Health Fast fronted the Post Road and no on-street parking was allowed.


Former Westporter Katrina Bickford, regional director for Robeks, isn't worried about the possibility of a short existence in Westport.


"We're a franchise so we have a proven business model," she said. The Westport Robeks would be the second Robeks in the state. The other is in Stamford. The chain will be opening its 100th store this summer.


While Robeks also offers nutrition bars, healthy wraps and salads and gourmet pretzels, Robeks' core product is fruit smoothies, according to Bickford.


"They're custom made fruit smoothies with natural boosts to achieve certain functional goals," said Bickford. "If someone needs energy, we've got an energy boost. If someone needs fiber, we've got a fiber boost. If someone comes down with a cold, we've got an immunity boost. If someone's trying to lose weight, we've got a fat burning boost."


A copy of a Robeks menu was available in the P&Z office. The various categories were as follows: nutritional boosts, berry smoothies, power smoothies, tropical smoothies, exotic smoothies, fresh juices, power shots, shakes and freezes, frozen yogurt, healthy eats, gourmet pretzels, power muffins and power cookies.


The two power shots offered are green tea and organic wheat grass. "One ounce of wheat grass is the equivalent of two-and-a-half pounds of green vegetables," said Bickford.


The smoothies are made with non-fat yogurt or low-fat sherbet. Smoothies with a protein boost can be used a meal replacement, according to Bickford.


"It will satisfy all the nutritional requirements," she said. Robeks would also offer custom-made fresh vegetable juices. In addition, a bulletin board would inform customers of various health-related events taking place in the community.


Paul Chapman, a nearby residential neighbor of the proposed 1,412 square foot business, was pleased to hear there wouldn't be any grilling of food taking place at Robeks. Chapman said the odor of grilled food, in the past, has not been pleasant.


"The best thing that happened was when Boston Market went out of business, and then, when Sierra Grille went out of business," he said, adding, "I'm very pleased to see this is not a grilled fast food establishment."


Chapman asked if a grilled restriction could be placed on an approval for the business, but P&Z Director Laurence Bradley told the commission: "I don't think putting a restriction on what type of food is within your purview."


Barr promised there will be no grilling and cooking going on at the site as long as Robeks is occupying the space.


"There's no stovetop cooking contemplated here," he said, but added, "There will be a tiny pizza oven that we put pretzels into." Pretzels on the menu include tomato Parmesan, spinach Feta and apple cinnamon. Bickford hopes to open the Westport Robeks store in August or September.


"We're very serious about our smoothies. It's what we do better than everybody else," she said.


The P&Z is scheduled to vote on the special permit and site plan application during its work session tomorrow night.

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