The Wellbeing Café sells healthy smoothies in downtown Hillsdale. Courtesy | Facebook
The Wellbeing Café is brewing with much to offer.
Rick Tropiano, owner of Johnny T’s Bistro, opened the smoothie café in October 2022. He based his mission statement on Biblical values, and hopes to educate the community on how to nurture themselves both physically and spiritually.
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you even as your soul is getting along well,” Tropiano said, quoting 3 John 2:2 to explain his mission.
The Wellbeing Café, located in The Well Activities Center at 3240 West Carleton Road and at thewellbeing.cafe, focuses on offering healthy smoothies to the community.
“We use whole foods, good foods without a lot of chemical makeup in our ingredients or anything like that,” Tropiano said. “They’re as natural as can be, and good for you, without all the poisons in the fast food industry.”
Camden Dice, co-owner of The Well, said the café offers healthier options than many other restaurants.
“The awesome part about The Wellbeing Café is that all of their products are whole foods, which is not seen anywhere in today’s restaurant business,” Dice said. “So when you order a strawberry banana smoothie, you get exactly what you asked for: fresh strawberries and bananas in a smoothie. It’s not powder or a chemical. Then, you can always add extras like honey, protein, peanut butter, etc.”
During February, specials will include a chocolate-covered strawberry protein shake, a berries and cream vanilla-base protein shake, a coffee protein shake, and the mocha and flax with cold brew blended in.
“My favorite thing is by far the Tropical Paradise smoothie,” Dice said. “I love mangos and pineapple and it just tastes so good. I will even have it after a workout and add a scoop of grass-fed whey protein. It’s really tough to beat.”
Food items will also be hitting the menu soon, according to Tropiano, who goes back and forth multiple times a day between managing Johnny T’s and the café. He said the process has been a challenge.
“I still have a firm belief that God is in control, and if he wants this to work, even I can’t screw it up,” he said. “We are implementing new things now and have newer equipment. We’re going to start serving food, like sandwiches and paninis that will still be healthy without all the chemicals. Probably by March, we’ll be rolling with that.”
Customers can also watch local basketball teams play a game on a court in front of the smoothie bar.
“We’re hoping to see the café pick up a bunch more traction as it begins to add more things to the menu,” Dice said. “The biggest struggle is that people don’t know it’s in the building. It’s an amazing facility with a physical therapy clinic, doctor’s clinic, weights and gym floor, but the café really is the cherry on top. It’s super convenient to get done with a workout and immediately have something to help your body refuel.”
The café offers more information here.
