Darious Robertson, 29, spent many extra hours at home during the COVID-19 pandemic watching health-related documentaries.
The documentaries led him down a rabbit hole of discoveries about nutrition toward a desire for a healthier lifestyle. He started to reconsider what he was eating — shifting to a vegan diet. Robertson says he wanted cleaner options. During that time, he bought his first juicer.
“I started juicing everything I could get my hands on,” Robertson says. “I juiced every produce, every vegetable — especially the ones I wasn’t partial to.”
Almost immediately, Robertson noticed his mood had improved, his gut felt healthier and less bloated, and his skin was clearer. A means for him to consume nutrients in a convenient way quickly turned into tasty creations he genuinely enjoyed drinking. In turn, he wanted to share his juices and newfound knowledge with his friends, family, and others in the community.
“I noticed that what we eat here is a lot different than what’s eaten in other places like the West Coast, where they have a lot more healthy options,” he says. “I didn’t see those types of options available where I grew up in Memphis, and I wanted to contribute in my own way.”
Robertson did that by opening The Juice Joint in Crosstown Concourse in 2024, merging his passion for healthy living and entrepreneurship.
“I’m not a chef,” Robertson chuckles. “So I knew I couldn’t whip up any food, but I can definitely put some nutritious juices together. I wanted people who look like me to be able to get something good for them.”
Robertson wants more people to pay attention to what they consume. He concludes that most people have been eating the same thing for years without much thought.
“We buy a bag of chips because we’ve been eating chips for 20 years,” he says, “but grab that same bag of chips, turn that label around, and read some of the ingredients. Look up the ones you can’t pronounce and see what effect they have on your body.”
Some of the ingredients people are unknowingly consuming could be the source of inflammation and other ailments, Robertson says. He encourages replacing them with ingredients that aid and support the body, like beets, which help blood flow.
A part of The Juice Joint’s mission is to share wellness education with the community through in-store interactions and pop-up shops around the city.
When he is not juicing, he’s recentering in nature or working on his strength and conditioning at the gym. Robertson, who is also a stage and film actor, has recently ramped up his strength-training regimen to prepare for a boxing film in the spring.
A man of many passions, Robertson is learning what his body needs to thrive in every season and wants others to do the same through research and, in some cases, trial and error.
The Juice Joint, located in the West Atrium of Crosstown Concourse, serves up fresh cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and bowls Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m-6 p.m., and Sunday from 1-6 p.m. Learn more at Thejuicejointmemphis.com.
By Maya Smith
Photo by Tindall Stephens
