We had the good fortune of connecting with Nia Times and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was to be able to make a positive impact on people’s health. I wanted to be a food service that shows it cares about the quality of food it serves to its customers. My business is meant to be a local, grassroots effort to provide quality food to the community, and also a place to feel welcomed.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I have wanted to open my own restaurant for about the last 15 years. I became really passionate about eating healthy foods in 2017 when I participated in a group fast that consisted of eating only fruits and vegetables for 15 days. This fast transformed my mind, my spirit and my body. My thoughts became more clear, I had no brain fog. My body became leaner and I had more energy. I wanted to share that experience with everyone. Finally, in 2023 I got the opportunity to open my business. The building that I stumbled across was cheap but needed a lot of remodeling to open for business. It was challenging trying to find contractors that fit into my budget, but I was able to connect with local, private contractors to do the work at a reasonable costs. These were individuals that believed in my vision! The costs to install the necessary items were too expensive for me so, I changed by business plan to only serve juice and smoothies.

I am most proud that I was able to open the doors to my business in March of 2024. It is still growing and I still have a lot of work to do, but I am confident that The Juice Joint is going to grow even more and become a staple in the downtown Phoenix community. I set myself apart from other juice bars, because although I want my juices and smoothies to taste great, I strive to provide the freshest ingredients I can find, with no added sugars or preservatives.

I want the world to know that The Juice Joint cares about its customers and strives to provide exceptional service that feeds your mind, body and spirit. In the near future, I hope to be able to provide delicious salads, soups, sandwiches and herbal teas that are healing and nurturing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The first place we would visit would be The Juice Joint and get a refreshing cold pressed juice. The best selling juice is the Doo Wop, made with pineapple, ginger, apple and lime. It is so refreshing to drink in the heat of Phoenix. We would definitely have to stop by La Canasta in Phoenix. It has the most authentic tasting Mexican food and I love the atmosphere. A trip to the Phoenix Art Museum is a must. It is a very diverse place and features very diverse artists.

I also love nature. We would have to visit South Mountain and hike a trail. The view from the top of the mountain is breathtaking and allows you to really see the whole Valley of The Sun!! Zombi World Market is also one of my favorite local businesses. It has all the herbs and spiritual items that you can ever imagine. The owner is great and will answer any of your questions that you may have about spirituality and the occult. They have a great selection of books as well. Grassroots Bookstore in Downtown Phoenix is also a great place to get great books and they host great cultural events.

Warren’s Supper Club is also a great dinner spot with some of the best soul food and music. Sedona, Arizona would also have to be a two-day trip. The mountains and scenery are some of the best in the country. I would definitely take my friend there to relax and enjoy nature.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The company Credible really helped me keep my business afloat by providing a cash prize to assist with inventory, merchandise, and building expenses. They were supportive and the process was so easy. They are a great company!!

Website: https://nhsoul.net

Instagram: @thejuicejointaz

Facebook: @the.juice.joint.az

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.