JuiceLand: Where Austin Refuels
Austin-bred JuiceLand is best known for its delicious superfood smoothies, organic juices, and plant-based meals. They’re committed to bringing fresh, friendly, and authentic service to their communities. If you find yourself in Austin (or Houston, or Dallas) Austin pop into one of them and grab a delicious drink, peruse the record selection, and grab a photo next to one of their unique murals.
We caught up with owner Matt Shook, who dished on JuiceLand and shared the coveted recipe for their famed Wundershowzen Smoothie. Cheers!
Why did you start JuiceLand?
I started JuiceLand because I wanted to do something positive for my community while working with my friends, right down the road from my personal heaven on Earth, Barton Springs Pool. My family uses JuiceLand as a fueling station and we get to run into people from all over town, so as one of my best buds says, "it's like a clubhouse for your crew."
What is the mission of JuiceLand?
We want to make a positive impact on the health of our community and our planet, so we're all about making plant-based cuisine tasty and convenient.
Can you share a special story about impacting a customer’s life?
Most of our staff started off as customers before working at JuiceLand, so I'll share a bit about a program we have. We offer a scholarship, called Fresh for Life, to help people achieve their goals. From becoming a certified yoga teacher or a doula to finishing school or even starting their own business, our Fresh for Life program lifts spirits in ways I never could have imagined. It’s such a good feeling to help people actualize a dream!
What is your ultimate feel better drink?
One of our recent Feel Good, Do Good specials, stands out to me. The "Super Fun Guy" smoothie has mango, turmeric, and fresh-pressed pineapple-orange juice, along with coconut oil, mood-enhancing superfood mushrooms, and spirulina. I’ll make it even more fun by adding CBD oil. I call that one a “Super Fun Guy and a Pretty Chill Dude.” Plus, our Feel Good, Do Good monthly specials give proceeds to selected local charities which we've donated around $65,000 to date and growing!
Music appears to be a core part of JuiceLand when visiting a store. What musicians and albums have inspired you with JuiceLand?
Look at the KUTX playlist I sent across Austin radio waves; the music will tell the story. We sell records in many of the shops with an eclectic array of titles, but for me personally, I felt pretty validated in my music taste when Kendrick Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize. That dude has an epic cadence, arrangement, production, and message.
What do you recommend a first-time customer to order at JuiceLand?
A Home Run smoothie. We fresh press two apples and blend the juice with chunks of strawberry and hand peeled bananas. Three ingredients. So simple. So amazing. And once you’ve had that, you’ve got a great baseline to get more complex with the rest of the menu. Or try the Wundershowzen if you just want to trust us.
Where is JuiceLand headed next?
We are continuing to thrive off the energy our guests bring to us and are constantly striving to make drinks come true and keep people on the path to feeling better. As we say all day long – “cheers to your health!"