Meet Summer Rose | Chef, Founder, and Creative Director

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

Hi Summer, what matters most to you?
At this point in my life, love is most important to me. I really mean that. That’s why I’m in the food business, not because it’s easy (it’s not). Not because it is full of financial abundance and ease (it’s hard!). I’m in it because I love people. I want to bring happiness, warmth, community, and health to as many people as possible, and food is the way I know I can touch hearts. I believe that the world’s ailments can shift when we begin caring for our own ailments; taking care of our bodies is a form of self-love, and each day, I get to support people in doing that. It doesn’t get any better than that.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the founder of Local Juicery, an organic cafe and Juicery with two locations (Sedona and Flagstaff), and SWHM in Beauty, a beauty, clothing, and wellness boutique located in Sedona and online. On the side, I’ve published two healthy living cookbooks: Love Your Body, Feed Your Soul, and Raw and Radiant with Skyhorse Publishing. I have another cafe location that is near opening in Sedona called Wildcraft Kitchen, a coffee shop and small eatery that will focus on organic and local fare.

What do you feel sets your business apart in a wellness saturated market? What I believe sets Local Juicery apart from the many other juice places that have opened in recent years is that we treat it like home. We make food in our kitchen like I do for my family. We don’t have investors, so there is no one to answer to; I believe this helps to protect our quality and keeps us focused on people over profit… And something magical happens when you put people and real wellness first… the profits do come because people aren’t stupid or tuned out; they can feel the difference in their bodies and in the flavor of what we produce. Local Juicery has the best quality ingredients and the most loving, good energy, and connected team making the foods and serving our guests.

What are you most excited about?I’m most excited about my consulting business, that I’m just getting off the ground. I love the startup phase of business. There is something so magical in that first year of development and opening that activates me. My family calls me a compulsive creative; I have trouble stopping. In every town I visit, I see a potential business venture. I pass a “for lease” sign and, in my mind, have already created the menu and done the buildout. That’s why the Local Juicery menu is so loaded; I need to create… But at a certain point in business, I’ve found that you have to focus on what’s working and be more strategic about what you’re adding. Otherwise, you’ll drive your team up the wall like I did. Consulting has been very fulfilling for me on a creative level. I get to play in the kitchen again, develop menus, strategize social media, be around inspiring people, and work on branding, all while supporting other health-minded entrepreneurs to realize their visions. It’s a win-win!

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in business? The lesson that I feel has been most important for me in business (especially as an artist/creative) leans on the old adage, “How you do anything is how you do everything.” I realized early on that how I showed up for my personal life was reflected in my business, relationships, and overall health. I couldn’t run something, be in a relationship, or show up in a healthy way when I wasn’t investing in myself. Self-care and real connection always come first for me nowadays.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would start the day with an early morning hike up Sugar Loaf Mountain. It’s not the most popular or challenging hike, but I love the panoramic views of Sedona. Then we’d go to Local Juciery for a juice, smoothie, or tonic and sit in the sunshine; we’d stop by SWHM in beauty and use some of the locally made skincare and pick up a bottle of Philosopher’s Stone activated almonds for our afternoon snack. I’d take them to Crystal Magic, Sedona’s most popular new-age store, for the full Sedona experience. From there, we’d head to Freeform Coffee for a locally roasted coffee. We’d enjoy local art and shopping at Tlaquepaque and then sit by the river at the Los Abrigados park. After that, we’d get chocolate from Chocolatree or Living Chocolate (both delicious). Lunch would be at Vespa, a cute little healthy Italian cafe. Around sunset, I’d go to Airport Mesa for a great vantage point, and then for dinner, we’d go to Thai Spices or Tamaliza, both simple, non-fussy, locally owned Sedona staples. On a clear night, the stars are incredible, so we’d lay out on the roof (or even the ground) and watch the sky.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate this Shoutout to our entire Local Juicery and SWHM team. Thank you for showing up with energy, dedication, care, and connection.

Website: www.summerrose.love

Instagram: _____summerrose

Other: www.localjuciery.com www.swhminbeauty.com

Image Credits
Hannah Rose Gray