MONROE - Chris Isely, owner of Fitness Nutrition Center, saw a market for a healthy drive-thru option in Monroe. Now at his recently expanded store, his employees have to scramble to keep up during rush hours.
"Everything's made on demand," Isely said. "It's all fresh."
Isely, who grew up in Argyle and now lives in Monroe, opened his Freeport location in 2006. Once he built his customer base there, he opened his Monroe location in 2013. Involved with bodybuilding, he was already familiar with the sports aspect of the business and learned about the other side - minerals and herbs - over time.
His expanded store has been open for about two weeks and not only offers health supplements and herbs, but also offers a food menu with a variety of smoothies.
Before the expansion, Isely and his girlfriend, Tracey Klitzke, mostly ran the store. Now, he employs four full-time employees and about six part-time employees.
Klitzke has taken charge of the menu, which he said thus far has had good reception.
"We've been surprisingly overwhelmed with all the support and encouragement we've gotten," Klitzke said. "My fear was the food, but the food is actually going over so well. It's great people are really taking to the health food aspect."
Once the weather warms up again, Isely plans to add some picnic tables outside for people to sit. The business held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce Saturday.
The nutrition center also has new weekend hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and the same weekday hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
"Everything's made on demand," Isely said. "It's all fresh."
Isely, who grew up in Argyle and now lives in Monroe, opened his Freeport location in 2006. Once he built his customer base there, he opened his Monroe location in 2013. Involved with bodybuilding, he was already familiar with the sports aspect of the business and learned about the other side - minerals and herbs - over time.
His expanded store has been open for about two weeks and not only offers health supplements and herbs, but also offers a food menu with a variety of smoothies.
Before the expansion, Isely and his girlfriend, Tracey Klitzke, mostly ran the store. Now, he employs four full-time employees and about six part-time employees.
Klitzke has taken charge of the menu, which he said thus far has had good reception.
"We've been surprisingly overwhelmed with all the support and encouragement we've gotten," Klitzke said. "My fear was the food, but the food is actually going over so well. It's great people are really taking to the health food aspect."
Once the weather warms up again, Isely plans to add some picnic tables outside for people to sit. The business held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce Saturday.
The nutrition center also has new weekend hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and the same weekday hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.