BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO
We met fellow Wash Park neighbors and husband-and-wife team Carolyn Bigda and Andrew Donaldson last summer after they first opened the doors to their two Pure Green locations in Wash Park and Cherry Creek. Thrilled to see another healthy food option open up, we found out quickly that Andy and Carolyn strive to maintain a healthy balance in all aspects of their lives.
Tell us a little about your backstory. What did you both do before starting on this adventure?
We have lived in Denver for almost ten years, with backgrounds in journalism and corporate finance. We both lived in New York City for years and were always mindful of nutrition and exercise. We also saw firsthand the impact of poor nutrition and the difficulty that many people have accessing healthy food. So when we had the opportunity to open a store with the mission of providing healthy food (that also tastes good), we jumped at it. It takes a lot of effort and people to combat the crisis of poor nutrition; we view our Pure Green stores as contributing our small part.
For those of our readers who have not yet been to Pure Green, what can they expect?
Most importantly: delicious and nutritious food designed to fuel the body the way that nature intended. Our mission is to build healthier communities by connecting people with superfoods, so that is at the core of our menu and our experience. Our primary products are made-to-order smoothies and açaí bowls as well as cold-pressed 16oz juices and 2oz shots. We also strive to create an energetic and friendly environment in our stores so that everyone feels comfortable asking questions about our products and their health benefits. Plus, we want people to have fun and experiment with foods they may not have tried in the past.
The health benefits of cold pressed juices and smoothies, are immense. Just how much is packed into one of your juices?
Our cold-pressed juices can contain up to five pounds of fruits and vegetables, which is a lot! Each of our juices includes nutrients that are geared toward fighting toxins and boosting immunity and health. Cold-pressed juice is so potent and instantaneous because it lacks the fibrous pulp of whole fruits and vegetables. Since the body doesn’t have to break the fiber down in the digestive system before being used, cold-pressed juice is like a lightning bolt to the system. The nutrients immediately enter the body and start getting to work. That’s why when you take a sip of cold-pressed juice, you immediately feel a kick of energy. One thing to note with any cold-pressed juice: because they are so nutritionally dense, they do contain higher caloric counts than normal fruits and vegetables. It takes a lot of produce to make the juice, so it’s going to be more calories than just one single piece of fruit. That doesn’t mean you should abstain. Just be aware of how much cold-pressed juice you’re consuming so you don’t overdo it. And be aware of the ingredients – if you can’t pronounce anything on the back label, steer clear! Cold-pressed juice should only contain common fruits and vegetables with no added sugar or chemicals.
Overall, everyone is busy and looking for quick and convenient ways to eat nutritious foods. Drinking cold-pressed juice is an easy and fast way to make sure you are getting enough fruits and vegetables in your diet. It’s perfect for grabbing on the go and sipping. In one bottle, you can get your recommended daily allowance of a wide range of vitamins and nutrients, what can be easier than that?
Pure Green puts sustainability at the forefront. Can you tell us more about that?
From the early days of planning our stores, we had a strong focus on minimizing the environmental impact of our operations. We are proud to use compostable packaging whenever possible, including all of the packaging and utensils used in our made-to-order smoothies and açaí bowls. We also partner with Compost Colorado to collect our compostable material to keep as much waste as possible out of the landfill. In our view, we are doing our small part to contribute to sustainable living and building a model of sustainable food service. In many ways, Colorado is at the forefront of that movement, and the more it is proven out as an operating model, the more food service businesses across the country will adopt these methods. At least we hope!
How has your experience been, opening two brick and mortars after a pandemic?
We were lucky enough to open our stores with enough distance from the peak of the pandemic, so we didn’t have to manage through lockdowns and the sudden drop-off in foot traffic, as many other small businesses did. Still, the aftereffects of the pandemic are very present, and our experience has been consistent with what’s generally been reported, particularly in the areas of an extremely tight labor market, unpredictable supply chain disruptions, and increasing inflationary pressures on all of our packaging and ingredients. Through it all, we try to stay laser-focused on our core mission of building healthier communities by connecting people with superfoods….that makes all the rest worth it!
How has the neighborhood embraced you?
We opened our first location in Washington Park because we love the neighborhood we live in and wanted to hopefully have a positive impact on the community. True to form, everyone has been very supportive and welcoming, and it has been a pleasure to get know even more neighbors. At our second location in Cherry Creek, the local business community has been especially supportive, and we’ve already managed to participate in some of the various events hosted there, such as the Cherry Creek Arts Festival.
What can we expect from you in the future?
Our primary goal is to grow our platform within Denver so we can bring superfoods and awareness of the impact of healthy eating to all communities within Denver. So, look for us at educational events, your next road race, a local youth sports game, and potentially even more locations.
When you’re not managing both stores, how do you spend your free time?
We both enjoy all of the things that Colorado has to offer, from skiing to hiking to the Vail Dance Festival every summer. Our dog (a quirky Australian Cattle Dog mix) also keeps us quite busy, and each summer, we battle the elements to grow a small vegetable garden (some years with better success than others). Outside of daily life, you might find us hopping on a plane to check out a different part of the world – including the different kinds of juices, smoothies and açaí bowls other people are mixing up.
Do you have a favorite smoothie recipe that you make at home?
Our favorite smoothie is the Pure Green – it’s the best of all worlds: a hydrating base of coconut water, a delicious fruit combination of mango and pineapple, and the nutrients of leafy greens. What’s not to love?
Thank you both for serving up healthy options to our friends and neighbors, Andy and Carolyn! We hope to see both locations continue to thrive and look forward to what the future holds for Pure Green. Visit them at 681 E. Louisiana Ave. and 140 Clayton Ln. or at puregreencolorado.com.