Juicilicious Smoothies Offer Mokena a Taste of Summer

As a business student at Arizona State University, Chan Le always had places to just hang out. He said that Mokena was missing that. , Le's smoothie bar, is his way of fixing it.

"This is a place that people of any age can come and just hang out," Le explained.

And people will want to. Inside the smoothie bar, located at 19070 Everett Blvd. in the Boulevard shopping center, four computers are set up on a corner desk, and customers can use these free of charge. Juicilicious also provides free WiFi to anyone wanting to relax on the couches or at one of the tables to get some work done.

To celebrate the grand opening on April 15, representatives from the  and  attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony to honor Le and his new business.

Lee Kaz, Chamber President, said that he admired Le's entrepreneurism and drive, especially right out of college.

"Juicilicious enhances the Chamber, and it attracts more businesses like this to the community," Kaz said.

Mayor Joe Werner reiterated Kaz's words of praise to the young business owner and offered him help anytime that Le needs it.

"It's businesses like these that help the community grow, and we're proud," Werner said.

After graduating from college, Le said he spent months trying different recipes and deciding which ones tasted the most delicious. The end result was two boards full of smoothie options. However, if none of these strike you fancy, a punch card is also available that lets you choose exactly what you want in the smoothie.

Coffee and Thai tea are also available.

Most smoothies include fresh fruit and milk, but non-dairy options are also available. The taste is reminiscent of a sunny summer afternoon, even on a cold and rainy day like Friday.

Le said that he wants everyone to see his method of doing business; that's why the interior of Juicilicious is so open. Also, after the employees mix the ingredients, they blend it right in front of you so that you can see the real, all-natural ingredients.

Though Juicilicious provides a healthy alternative for Mokena residents, Le said that's not why he chose a smoothie business. He chose smoothies because he thinks they taste delicious.

"I'm originally from Vietnam, and in Vietnam, people drink smoothies because they taste good. I wanted to bring that concept here," Le explained. "The energy and health benefits are just extras."

Though the smoothie options will alter seasonally, the prices are set in stone. Le said that they are comparable to local coffee joints, with a 14-ounce costing $3.50.

However, to celebrate their first month in business, everything on the menu is 20 percent off. 

Why try one of Le's smoothies? "It's juice and it's delicious," he stated. It's as simple as that.