By D. Shayne Christie
Arizona Daily Wildcat
January 16, 1997

Smoothies blend in with newly remodeled Union Square Cafe

Jerry Groch, cash operations manager, said the Student Union saw a need for the type of products Fresh‰ns offers.

"It is a product that we see the customers want," Groch said. He added that Smo”thies are the best selling item so far.

"I think people want to try it out because it is new," he said.

John Sobon, business consultant for Fresh‰ns, said similar businesses are established on 150 to 200 other campuses in the United States.

Sobon said Fresh‰ns has franchises in malls and other areas, but this Fresh‰ns is under the authority of the Student Union.

"Smo”thies is a new idea, it fits in with modern society. It's healthy, and it tastes great," Sobon said. He said the average Smo”thie has 300 calories, no fat and lots of vitamins.

Sobon said he opened approximately 25 new Fresh‰ns locations on campuses last year.

Erin McCusker, journalism sophomore, said she thinks the product is worth the relatively high price if you get a Smo”thie with yogurt in it.

"I think it's a good idea. It's low-fat," she said.

Smo”thies at Fresh‰ns range from $2.89 to $3.18 for a 21-ounce drink.

Ultimate Smoothies, 751 N. Park Ave., has been making the popular fruit drinks since October 1992 when University of Arizona graduates Lee Schlesinger and Adam Tannenbaum decided to start their own business.

Schlesinger and Tannenbaum graduated in 1991 and since have made Ultimate Smoothies into a national chain with locations in California, Georgia, and two locations soon to open in Dallas. There are three Ultimate Smoothies locations in Tucson.

Drinks at Ultimate Smoothies cost anywhere from $2.50 to $4 for a 20-ounce drink.

Jared Petty, pharmacology junior, said he thinks the new Fresh‰ns will do well because students can use All Aboard to pay for drinks.

"The fact that it is on All Aboard really weighs in," he said. "If Ultimate Smoothies were on All Aboard maybe I'd be there."

Schlesinger said, "I'm excited that they (Fresh‰ns) are there and hopefully they will put out a good product to give smoothies a good name." He also said he thinks the opening of Fresh‰ns will help business by increasing awareness about smoothies and that he welcomes the competition.

"We have full confidence in our product, that it is better," he said.

Joe Sottosanti, assistant director of operations for the Student Unions, said it cost approximately $8,000 to make the improvements to the Union Square Cafe over the winter break.