First UA smoothie bar hits rough competition, closes

Ultimate Smoothies, 751 N. Park Ave, closed after the smoothie market became saturated in the area surrounding the University of Arizona, said Adam Tanenbaum, owner of Ultimate Smoothies.

Tanenbaum said he is sad to see the store close because Ultimate Smoothies was the area's first smoothie bar. He said the business opened in 1992.

However, with Fruitissimo at 998 E. University Blvd., Baskin-Robbins at 904 E. University Blvd., and FreshÅns Yogurt's located in the Memorial Student Union offering a similar product, Tanenbaum said there was too much competition in too small of an area. He said the new Coffee Plantation location at 845 E. University Blvd. also has plans to offer smoothies.

Don Semro, a consultant for the Marshall Foundation, which leases the space Ultimate Smoothies occupied, said the space has already been leased to Fruitissimos, a juice bar already located at the corner of University Boulevard and North Park Avenue.

Tanenbaum said a lack of cooperation from the Marshall Foundation also led to the decision to close.

"We couldn't get an exclusive right with the lease from the Marshall Foundation," he said.

The Marshall Foundation does not let businesses close or reduce hours during slow seasons like Christmas and summer, which hurts the small business owner, Tanenbaum said.

He said Ultimate Smoothies will now concentrate on expanding nationwide, with three stores opening in Dallas and another opening at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. The Ultimate Smoothies location at 2751 N. Campbell Ave. is still open for business.

Two other businesses have also closed in the University Square area on University Boulevard between North Park and North Tyndall avenues since February.

The Lighthouse Bookstore, 909 E. University Blvd., shut down its operations about a week ago, Semro said.

"I don't know why," Semro said of the bookstore's closing. "We got a letter from them that gave us 30 days notice."

The Lighthouse Bookstore's owners could not be reached.

Half Red Man, located next door to Lighthouse Bookstore, closed its doors in February, Semro said. He said the store closed after the owner died.

Tanenbaum said the University Square area has not seen a single improvement since the 1970s.

The Marshall Foundation's plans to remodel the area east of the new West Main Gate Square are still not definite, Semro said.

"There are many different factors," he said. "The Marshall Foundation is studying the possibility of remodeling the north side from Tyndall to Park Avenue."

Semro said no plan has been decided on and that the board hopes to have a final proposal ready by the beginning of the fall semester.