Father-son duo go into business together with Clean Juice in Cy-Fair – Houston Chronicle

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Clean Juice, the original USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise, is open in Cypress. The new location is locally owned by health and wellness advocates and local family, Drew and Ray Pikulski.
Clean Juice, the original USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise, is open in Cypress. The new location is locally owned by health and wellness advocates and local family, Drew and Ray Pikulski.
Clean Juice, the original USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise, is open in Cypress. The new location is locally owned by health and wellness advocates and local family, Drew and Ray Pikulski.
Clean Juice, the original USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise, is open in Cypress. The new location is locally owned by health and wellness advocates and local family, Drew and Ray Pikulski.
Clean Juice, the original USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise, is open in Cypress. The new location is locally owned by health and wellness advocates and local family, Drew and Ray Pikulski.
On a road trip to visit his parents in 2020, Ray Pikulski had a candid chat about work and career life with his son Drew. Both men had successful careers — Drew working in medical sales and Ray with 35 years under his belt in the gas and oil industry.
Drew told his dad that he had had enough.
“He just said, ‘Dad, I can’t work for people,’” Ray said. “‘I’ve got to do my own thing.’”
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After the trip the father-son duo went searching for franchising concepts to get behind that met their values and goals. After research into Subway and Chick-Fil-A, among others, a chat with a longtime friend of Ray’s, whose wife owned a Clean Juice franchise, brought the pair to their final decision.
“We talked to this individual for an hour and the next thing you know we’re calling the area development manager and then that led us to 18 months later opening up,” Ray said.
Clean Juice is a USDA approved juice bar franchise with multiple locations in the greater Houston area including The Woodlands, Vintage Park, and the Pikulskis’ new Cypress location.
Clean Juice provides cold-pressed juices and shots, as well as all-organic foods like sandwiches and acai bowls.
Ray said the business model matched up with his and Drew’s values, specifically with health. Juices are prepared with simple ingredients in front of the customer.
“The pandemic had a part to play in the growth of Clean Juice and opening up other stores,” Ray said. “We’re the 10th store in the surrounding Houston area. The thing about Clean Juice being organic and healthy is that people, as the scare with the pandemic took place, were coming in for immunity shots and our wellness shots. It allows an individual healthy options from delicious, organic products and a guilt-free treat.”
Although the franchising process was not easy, between switching careers, construction woes and investigating the franchise they wanted to partner with, Ray said he and Drew are satisfied that they made the jump.
“When you look at the actual concept of Clean Juice, their core values are strong in spirit, healthy in body and embracing the chaos,” Ray said. “Those three things are what got Drew and I through all of this. It took us 18 months to open up a store that should have been open in nine months.”
Drew hopes to own five locations of Clean Juice within the next seven years, with specific plans to open another Cypress location in the near future.
“Clean Juice brings nutritional and healthy options to the community, but in a quick and convenient way for people to enjoy our menu items,” Drew said. “Whether it’s multi-day cleanses, fresh pressed juices, food items or smoothies. There is something for everyone at Clean Juice, and we look forward to serving our hometown.”
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Overall, the pair are excited to own and operate an organic food provider, with the chance to give back through donations at the counter and future collaborations.
“We’re really excited about what we can do for the community,” Ray said. “Every customer that comes in is asked if they can donate to Quarters for Kids. We’re looking for ways to help and give back to the community.”
The Clean Juice in Cypress is located at 25672 Northwest Freeway, Suite B. The location has been open since June 11 and hosted a grand opening event on June 25.
chevall.pryce@chron.com
Chevall Pryce is a reporter for the northwest editions of the Houston Chronicle’s community newspapers. Pryce covers regional news including education, business, local government, transportation and nonprofit organizations. He was previously a reporter for Community Impact Newspaper and graduated from Texas A&M University in 2017 with a degree in Journalism. He has been with the Houston Chronicle since September 2018 and is originally from Dallas, Texas.
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