Roots Kitchen + Juicery is serving up wellness and kindness in Cambria County
When life and work became unpredictable in 2020, George and Megan Heit took the opportunity to start a business together. Relying on George’s restaurant experience working as a cook and Megan’s interest and knowledge in holistic wellness, Roots Kitchen + Juicery was born. What started as a New York-style food cart has grown into a brick-and-mortar juice bar on Main Street in Downtown Johnstown.
We’d love to be able to spread our “Roots” into more communities!
Through both research and personal experience, Megan realized holistic remedies like juicing and eating a plant-based diet made a difference in coping with physical and mental health issues. “As we learned more and practiced this way of life, this lifestyle was a great way to heal naturally and possibly prevent illness. We realized – if this is helping us, it could help other people, as well! We wanted to share it with the community and create a place for those conversations to happen,” Megan said.
The environment is so important, and we just want everyone to feel welcome and at ease here. Our community is everything to us.
Some people were initially skeptical that a juice bar would make it in a region stereotyped as a “meat & potatoes” country. But George and Megan discovered that part of their success lies in the fact that their food appeals to customers simply because it tastes good. “Even though our food is healthy, it doesn’t compromise on taste. And for that reason, I think it is much easier – and more enjoyable – to choose healthier food options,” shared Megan.
It seems rare these days to get good customer service that goes above and beyond.
“In just a few short months since opening their brick & mortar, Roots Kitchen + Juicery is already a destination in Downtown Johnstown,” said Blake Fleegle, the Cambria County coach for Startup Alleghenies who worked with the business on getting started. “That’s a testament not only to their great, healthy, products but also to themselves as owners. Megan and George are good people, and they are seeing success because of that.”
Cambria County is a popular destination for outdoor recreation like hiking, biking and water activities like tubing and paddling. George and Megan see their food as an opportunity to connect with nature in a different way and give their customers a chance to try something new.
Another key to their success, according to George and Megan, is even simpler: kindness. “It seems rare these days to get good customer service that goes above and beyond. We really want our place to be the spot that people know has their best interest at heart. Whether that is choosing organic and local produce for our ingredients, listening to our customer insights and requests or simply holding the door for someone. The environment is so important, and we just want everyone to feel welcome and at ease here. Our community is everything to us,” Megan said.
From continuing to grow their customer base and sponsoring local sports teams to partnering with local farms and suppliers and traveling with their food truck, George and Megan are looking forward to the future. “We’d love to be able to spread our “Roots” into more communities!”
Startup Alleghenies helps startup and emerging small businesses succeed by providing free coaching to entrepreneurs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. To access personal, one-on-one support from a coach in your county, including guidance, resources, tools and networking opportunities, sign up at startupalleghenies.com.
