By Patrick Sochacki
Additional reporting by Rebecca Roberts
FENTON – “It was a calling. This is our lifestyle in a brick-and-mortar space.”
Jennifer Ream, and her sister Christine Landaal, are co-owners of the organic cold-pressed juice, smoothies, acai bowls and wellness studio, Vibe Well.
“The community has been extremely welcoming,” said Ream in reference to the first 15 months they’ve been operating in Fenton, MI.
This is their first location and Ream is very confident that “2020 is about creating a strong foundation for growth. 2021 and beyond will be for expanding.”
Ream and Landaal aren’t sure if expansion includes franchising or if the new locations will be privately-owned.
The sisters don’t intend on going to large cities or places that already have access to the type of products and services Vibe Well offers. Ream wants to stay in smaller communities where they can provide a service that isn’t commonplace, something Fenton and other small towns desperately need.
The choices provided at Vibe Well vary widely—they include organic cold-pressed juice, organic smoothies, organic acai bowls, organic oat bowls, organic superfood coffees and organic hot teas. Each choice has several varieties that are made from fresh and organic fruits and grains.
and bee pollen. Fenton, MI. Tuesday, Nov. 19. (Rebecca Roberts/Photo Editor)
If you suffer from food allergies then Vibe Well is a destination for you, they are free of almost all allergens including: dairy, gluten, corn, soy, peanuts, fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat and most common tree nuts.
“My son, Robbie, was definitely the inspiration,” said Landaal. “He had gone into anaphylactic shock and we have been to the ER several times because of his allergies.”
Landaal couldn’t stand the thought of other kids, or adults, missing out on foods or restaurants because of the allergies her son suffered from.
The idea behind Vibe Well was fresh and unique to Ream and Landaal, just like their menu items are to their customers.
“We didn’t know the hows, just that it needed to be done,” said Ream.
Ream was clear — an obstacle to providing those organic ingredients for the many options at Vibe Well is locating suppliers and watching costs.
“We work hard to keep costs down,” says Ream. “We’re currently figuring out costs so we don’t charge prices people can’t afford while also getting the freshest and highest quality ingredients to use in our foods.”
They encountered other challenges as they were getting started, too.
“As women, no one wanted to fund us, there were no references for this type of business and no concept to base ours off of,” Ream explained.
A major factor that pushed Ream and Landaal forward in their vision for Vibe Well was internal guidance.
“You have to trust in that guidance,” said Ream.
This is a theme in the concept of the entire business, trusting that you can help yourself get to where you need to be. Everyone can get there through personal ambition and the desire to improve. The sisters relied on the trust and faith they had in each other to push forward, even when things got tough.
“Don’t be afraid to take risks,” said Ream when asked about advice for college students looking to start businesses. “Failures are just a step, a part of the journey. Don’t judge yourself on failures.”
If you’re interested in checking out Vibe Well, and possibly even meeting the owners, make your way down to Fenton. They used to be closed on Sundays, but due to popular demand they are now open seven days a week.
The hours range from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Vibe Well is located at 495 North Fenway Drive in Fenton, MI.
If you’d like information on ingredients or class schedules you can visit their website at vibewell.com.
