The family that juices together also manages to have fun together. They are, from left, Tom, Merlot, Nina, Montana and Kiera McDonald. Press Photo. CORONADO Where there’s a need there’s a way, says Nina McDonald, owner of FUEL Juicebar, Coronado’s new juice and smoothie bar. She and husband Tom have opened a hip, contemporary space that has been filled with locals and tourists since their soft opening Memorial Day Weekend. “My daughter went to Coronado High School and kept telling me how the kids would cross the bridge to San Diego just to get a smoothie for lunch,” said McDonald. “There are probably 50 or more eating establishments on this island but none of them provide the kind of fresh fruit smoothies we thought people were really looking for,” she said. “It was a niche waiting to be filled.” The resulting creation, FUEL Juicebar, offers six different smoothies, all made with either fresh or frozen whole fruit, a variety of freshly-squeezed vegetable and fruit juices, locally roasted Calabria and Blue Bridge coffees, Italian sodas and freshly pressed wheat grass. FUEL Juicebar is located just off Orange Avenue, about two blocks from the Hotel del Coronado, at the corner of B Avenue and Ynez Place. The fresh new establishment also offers healthy sandwiches and salad choices, including gluten-free and vegetarian offerings prepared by Vanessa Karmo of Olive Oil Organic Café. “You won’t find fresher wheat grass juice anywhere on the island,” said McDonald. “Ours is grown in Encinitas and certified organic. It’s incredibly sweet tasting,” she said. FUEL Juicebar is the downstairs anchor in the award winning “fish” building designed by Coronado architect Joe Cristilli. The structure’s modern edge served to inspire McDonald in the interior design of FUEL Juicebar. “We didn’t want this to be a bright white, fluorescent space filled with noise and primary colors what people typically think of when they hear the words juice bar.’ We were going for a more urban, upscale feel,” she said. McDonald decorated accordingly. Blue and mocha walls are accented with bright orange, fuchsia and yellow hanging lamps over granite bar, providing a cheerful, modern ambience. Plants and a waterfall by LL Innovations add a soothing note. Paintings by local artists Joni Nies (fruit miniatures, appropriately) and Joel Brown (an Umbrian landscape) add a touch of class. Colorful cushions soften a corner bench seat. Outside, umbrella-sheltered tables offer respite from the sun. “I love our location,” said McDonald. “It’s so central to the historic section of downtown Coronado, it’s convenient to tourists and trolley riders, and yet we’re just far enough off the beaten path to allow for plenty of parking and to avoid the commotion and rush of the main thoroughfare, something the locals really seem to appreciate. They can actually hear each other talk on our patio, as opposed to dining on Orange Avenue.” As a family-owned business, the McDonald’s wanted to cater to a broad range of clientele. The couple’s daughter Kiera, a certified personal trainer and experienced barista, manages the shop with a smile and makes sure the friendly staff serves clientele quickly. In the afternoons, two other daughters, Merlot and Montana, staff the cash register and help serve up the smoothies. “We have five kids and my mom is in her 80’s,” said McDonald. “We wanted to be able to appeal to each generation on a different level. The mom club’ of morning power-walkers can sit down for a green tea or coffee. Teens and kids coming in off the beach in the afternoons meet here and get smoothies. College students have a quiet place in the evenings to have a latte and work on their laptops. We try and tailor the music to different groups at different times of the day so everyone can feel comfortable.” On a recent Saturday, sand-coated surfers slurped bright yellow Tropical Tango’s (a mango, passion fruit, coconut and orange smoothie) next to seniors enjoying a late morning coffee. Clients from Family Gym, located on the top floor of the building, drop in to recharge with protein-packed, peanut butter, chocolate and banana “Jet Fuel” smoothies after tough workouts. On weekdays, nearby office workers have claimed the shop as a new favorite lunch stop. “I think we have a winning formula here,” said McDonald. “People are already asking us if we have other locations.” FUEL Juicebar is located at 1033 B Avenue, Suite 102, Coronado, CA 92118. Summer hours are Monday through Saturday 7am-9pm, Sundays 11-6. For more information call FUEL Juicebar at (619) 435-0443.
