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The Just Juice Co-Nisswa, MN
- Jami Nelson
- Mar 19
- 6 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Nisswa, MN-a place people dream of. I often think of the people in the twin cities metro area staring at their calendars dreaming of their summer plans. Dreaming about packing up the car, loading the coolers and heading North to the Brainerd Lakes Area for a weekend away. A weekend filled with time on the lake, a morning spent golfing at one of the championship golf courses, grilling, campfires and falling asleep to the song of the loons across the lake.
I have been enjoying the Brainerd Lakes Area since my parents bought a lot on the Gull River back in the 90's. We traveled from the Elk River/Zimmerman area every weekend to enjoy all the Brainerd Lakes has to offer! I remember the summer I was 14, my mom was grilling burgers outside, we had heard Princess Diana died-the news came from WJJY. My mom always had that station on at the cabin! From there, we spent all 4 seasons enjoying all the area had to offer: snowmobiling on the Paul Bunyan Trail, Riding horses at Outback Riding Stable in the fall and being on the river all summer long! One of my favorite things to do at the cabin was to jump of the Gull Dam Bridge!
Eventually, I went to college in Duluth and would come back summers to work at a little restaurant formerly known as Kelly's on the West Side of Gull Lake. I ended up spending 13 years of my life in that building meeting some of the most incredible people and learning some of lifes most valuable lessons. It was from Duff and my parents that I learned what it takes to run a small restaurant.
In 2010, The Jacob Restaurant group bought Kelly's and turned it into Jake's Gull Lake and hired me as their general manager. It was there that I got a taste of the corporate life. I learned policy's, procedures, trainings and systems. In the spring of 2013, my mom passed away and my life got turned upside down. I continued to work at Jake's until early winter 2014 when the invitation to work at 3 Cheers Hospitality was extended to me. I knew it was time to move along from the building that held so many memories.
It was at 3 Cheers that I learned how to manage 2 restaurants at a time, plan special events, weddings and cater giant events like We-Fest. I started my Holistic Health Coaching journey in 2016 and graduated in 2017, while I was still working the restaurants full time This is where Just Juice was born! I started making juices at home, and I would bring them to work with me at Sherwood Forest, my co-workers would soon be paying me to make them what I was having! Before I knew it, I was hauling boxes of juices in!
I slowly grew my business and my family over the past 9 years. On a cold candle lit December night in 2016, I married my husband Jesse Nelson at the Northern Pacific Center. When we aren't together as a family, you can usually find Jesse at a golf course. He is mostly at the Pines at Grand View Lodge-he is their PGA Head Golf Professional and very good golfer! We had our first child Denver in the spring of 2018. She was the first girl in our family after 23 years! She is named after my mom who lived in Colorado when she passed away, and Denver is a lefty just like my mom was! Early 2020 we welcomed out little boy Trace. He is named after his two favorite uncles and appears to be a natural athlete just like Jesse and his brothers are! Having 2 kids changed my perspective on life. I wanted to be there for naps, snacks, lunch, walks, park trips and picnics. I quit my job and went all in on parenting and my juice business.
From there I was able to slowly grow and expand my little juice business across the Brainerd Lakes Area. Over the years, I have been lucky enough to have my juices in the following places:
MN Traders Co-Pequot Lakes
Schaefer's Foods-Nisswa
Sherwood Forest-Nisswa
Crow Wing Food Co Op-Brainerd
Central Lakes College-Brainerd
Von Hanson's Meats-Baxter
Prairie Bay-Baxter
More about juicing offerings here:
Along with the juicing, I have expanded my wellness offerings to include events and life coaching. Hosting events is one of my most favorite things to do! Something about bringing people together in unique and fun ways that are health centric brings me to life! Some events I have hosted over the years are:
Sunrise/Sunset Hikes at Mount Ski Gull
4th of July Yoga & Juicing at Ernie's on Gull Lake
Workshops& Juicing at Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats
Workcation Retreat at Nature Link Resort
Mommy+Me Tea Party at Nature Link Resort
Birdies+Bonding Golf event at Grand View Lodge
And SO many more!
More about events I am hosting here:
Coaching women has also brought a whole new level of excitement to my life. I help ambitious women build sustainable success by prioritizing their health. For me-I had to have a foundation of health before I could build a truly thriving business, and now I help others do the same! It is an absolute pleasure to watch these women transform and grow and achieve a life they love!
More about my coaching here: www.thejustjuiceco.com/product-page/general-life-coaching-4-weekly-sessions
Over the years I have toured MANY spaces looking for the right place to land on it's own. I have gone so far as to be sitting in the board room at HyTech construction reviewing the plans they drew up for me for a space in Baxter. None of these places lined up. None of them were for me. None of them were Nisswa. In the spring of 2024, I was making fresh juice at the Co Op in downtown Brainerd when I noticed a local realtor friend who had stopped in to buy juice and other items. I went out of the kitchen to say hi to her! She said to me "when are you going to open a place like the Green Scene in Walker?" I told her "It would have to be the perfect location in downtown Nisswa for that to happen!" It was then that she had mentioned to me that the Fun Sisters building had just sold and I should reach out to the new owners. She connected me with them and here we are today. The owners gave me the opportunity to be in the space this past Thanksgiving weekend during the Nisswa City of Lights Celebration. As Jesse and I stood outside and watched the fireworks light up the sky, I had the thought "this is the last time I will ever watch these fireworks without having my own store in this magical little town." And so it is. The Just Juice Wellness Market and Event space is set to open very soon!
We are hoping to have our doors open to you early May 2025. You will be able to enjoy a variety of healthy grab and go items. All food menu offerings will be made fresh, packaged and ready for you to come in, make your selection and be on your way. I understand deeply how valuable time is and my goal is to make healthy, fresh food FAST for you! I will also offer locally grown produce and other wellness items made in Minnesota. The event space will be around 625 square feet and will be available for rent. Think fitness classes and a workshop space! This building has the capacity for me to have it ALL! The opportunity to blend all my wellness offerings in ONE space!
Whether you are someone dreaming and planning your trip to the Nisswa and surrounding area, or you are lucky enough to call this place home like I do, I hope you will stop in and say hi! My favorite part of this area and this entire business is the people. The people who want better health, more connection and to enjoy this beautiful life we have been given. It is an absolute dream come true to be a business owner in downtown Nisswa. I will never lose sight of the magic this town brings. I can NOT wait to see you there!
5380 Merril Ave, Nisswa, MN 56468
Beautiful Jami!!