Root to Rise offers patrons juice, healthy options
PORT CLINTON – For the past year, locals and tourists have been discovering a new spot to find healthy, natural breakfasts and lunches in Port Clinton.
Rose Sabin and Melissa Franks opened Root to Rise wellness bar inside the Soul Stretch Cycle spin and fitness studio in June 2020. Sabin, who also owns Soul Stretch Yoga, recognized a need for community and healthy food options during her yoga classes.
“The impetus for this was yoga,” Sabin said. “I noticed women liked to stand around and talk after class, and I wondered if I could open a juice bar.”
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A passion for heathy eating brought the women together to open Root to Rise
Franks, a Canadian native and chef who grew up around the food industry, passionately joined Sabin in the venture. She said she struggled to find healthy food options after moving to Port Clinton from a big city in Canada, where juice bars “are on nearly every corner.”
“I’m from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and lived in Vancouver. There, healthy was a way of life,” she said.
The women combined their shared passion for healthy eating to open Root to Rise.
“We were vibing on the same plane,” Sabin said. “Our foods have zero artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. There’s no fake anything.”
Sabin also brought to the business a knowledge of the healing power of food. She is a breast cancer survivor who completely changed her life after her diagnosis.
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“My cancer was aggressive, and I did chemo and radiation. That changed everything,” she said. “I sold my advertising business in Westlake and dialed everything down. Cancer came like a guru to teach me, and I’m thankful for that.”
Now, Sabin, Franks and their wellness-trained staff help others discover the right foods for their unique bodies. Root to Rise, they said, is a safe place to discuss body concerns and learn about healthy eating and the power of movement through yoga and cycling.
“I wanted this to be a place where people can walk in, whether they are cancer survivors, in recovery, or anything,” Sabin said. “We don’t condemn. You can come as you are and leave as you want to be.”
Soul Stretch Cycle offers a variety of classes where participants can find support on their health journey.
“There’s nothing more impactful than working out together. There’s a tribe mentality here,” Sabin said.
But it is not just cycle clients who visit the juice bar. On a recent morning, a nonstop flow of customers stopped by to order breakfast and lunch to meet their particular needs and preferences.
“We’re not all here to look the same. We’re all here to feel the same,” Franks said.
Study of food suppliers let to tasty menu of juices, salads, oats and herbed deviled eggs
The Root to Rise menu includes a diverse selection of coffee and teas; smoothies and smoothie bowls; cold pressed juices; salads and bowls; avocado toasts; gluten free waffles; oats; puddings; protein balls; raw energy bars; and truffle and herb deviled eggs. The menu includes vegan options.
Sabin and Franks spent much time researching high quality food suppliers.
“Everything is picked with incredible intention,” Franks said.
Sabin and Franks offer cooking classes twice a year during the spring and fall equinox, and Root to Rise can be found at pop-ups during local events this summer. A selection of their menu items will be available at Hotel Lakeside and Lakeside’s hydration stations. The women have been thankful for the opportunity to partner with many local businesses.
“We have been fortunate to receive so much support from local vendors like Bergman and Quinstock,” Franks said.
Root to Rise is open year round, Monday through 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m Sundays. It is located inside Soul Stretch Cycle at 80 N. Christy Road in Port Clinton. For more information, call 419-732-1392 or visit roottorisewellnesscafe.com.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at [email protected].
