Apr. 20—A customer walked into Lake Lanier Nutrition with a four-drink order on her mind. A regular since the business reopened in March, Amanda Norton was grabbing a few teas and protein shakes for her family before school let out in a couple of minutes.
"Sometimes I am here three times a day," Norton said.
Lake Lanier Nutrition
Where: 1062 Thompson Bridge Road, Suite B10, Gainesville,
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
More info: instagram.com/lakelaniernutrition
In the morning, she orders one of the 24 protein shakes on the menu or an iced coffee, a new item packed with 24 grams of protein. For lunch, she gets a "loaded tea" — loaded with vitamin C, B12 and no added sugar — returning once more after school when her twins learn that she made a stop at Lake Lanier Nutrition without them.
"It's great to have it back open," Norton said.
Lake Lanier Nutrition, located in the Thompson Court shopping center in Gainesville, is now owned by Brian and DeAnna Shaw, who are no strangers to operating a nutrition-focused smoothie and juice bar.
Brian, a Lawrenceville native, and DeAnna, who hails from South Florida, also own Old Mill Nutrition, a three-year-old smoothie and juice bar inside the Duncan Corner shopping center in Flowery Branch.
The opportunity to buy Lake Lanier Nutrition, which was closed when the Shaws purchased it, was something the couple couldn't pass up, according to DeAnna.
"We knew Lake Lanier Nutrition had been closed and that people were asking about when it was going to open again," she said. "The goal now is to let people know that we are here, we have new menu options and there are experienced owners that have taken over."
Before purchasing the business, the couple agreed the Gainesville market was a prime target because of how good the Hall County customer base has been to their Flowery Branch smoothie bar.
The couple split their time between both stores alongside two full-time employees and, on occasion, their six children.
A former emergency room nurse turned businesswoman, DeAnna said the two careers share more similarities than people might think.
"I feel like I have the patience to be able to explain what's most beneficial to our customers," she said with a smile, adding that being organized, detailed and informed of the many shakes, teas and ice coffees on the Lake Lanier Nutrition menu makes for a better customer experience.
"I love that I get to talk to people and engage with them," she said. "Learning more about our customers is my passion."