New Lakeside business offers healthy products for people — and dogs
Alex Edwards
LAKESIDE — A Danbury graduate and her college-age son have teamed up to open Lakeside’s newest business, SmoothieSide. Donna Edwards and Alex Edwards jumped into their mother-son venture as a way to fulfill Alex’s longtime dream of owning a business in Lakeside. SmoothieSide, a year-round business, hosted a grand opening on Oct. 8.
After graduating from Danbury High School, Donna lived elsewhere for 30 years but returned each summer for an extended stay.
“My mom is still here, so we always came home every summer. My kids call this their second home,” Donna said. “SmoothieSide all got started because Alex really wanted a business in Lakeside.”
When they heard a Lakeside building was becoming available, they started brainstorming business ideas, focusing on products that weren’t yet available in the community.
“What Lakeside was missing was something healthy and quick. We wrote a business proposal on a smoothie business and presented it to Lakeside, and they agreed to it,” Donna said.
The Edwards are longtime smoothie lovers
Donna Edwards
Donna is an art teacher at Monroe Preparatory Academy in Sandusky, and Alex is studying business and accounting at the University of Kentucky. This is a new endeavor for both of them, but they are longtime smoothie fans.
“We both love making smoothies at home, but the weird thing is, at home, you make a smoothie and eat it. Here, you make a smoothie and give it to someone else,” Donna said.
To create a menu that appeals to a wide variety of tastes, Donna and Alex spent time researching and taste-testing different smoothie recipes.
“It was lots of experimenting, lots of Pinterest, lots of visits to smoothie shops,” Donna said.
Smoothie names reflect the Lakeside area
Their efforts produced a unique menu of smoothies and smoothie bowls with Lakeside-themed names including Lake Erie Fix, Peachy Chai Pickleball and Acai Hoover Bowl. Customers can choose from different milks, sweeteners and toppings. Ingredient options include a variety of proteins, cocoa nibs, collagen peptides, fruit and granola.
“They’re very customizable,” Donna said. “And we have diabetic-friendly smoothies.”
SmoothieSide has been working through a soft opening since Labor Day. So far, customer favorites include the Hotel Strawberry Banana smoothie and the Lakesider, a tropical smoothie that includes pineapple, banana and bee pollen.
“People love bee pollen,” Donna said. “Our seasonal smoothies are Caramel Apple and Pumpkin Pie.”
SmoothieSide offers two varieties of dog smoothies, and all of their products are served in eco-friendly containers.
“Lakeside is a Tree City, so our cups are recyclable, and our bowls are earth-friendly,” Donna said.
Donna is extremely happy that she and Alex have found a place to build a business inside Lakeside.
“I couldn’t think of a safer, better place to have a business than Lakeside,” she said. “I feel like we can’t fail because the community is so supportive and everyone is so nice.”
SmoothieSide is at 208 W. 2nd St. Winter hours are Friday through Monday only, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit the SmoothieSide Facebook page.
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