UA-area smoothie bar being ousted for new snack stand

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Delissimo owner Alex Bouzari gets a slice of pizza for a customer last year when Delissimo first opened. Bouzari's smoothie bar, Fruitissimo, was denied its lease renewal and he will be serving smoothies at Delissimo.

The store will replace Fruitissimo Inc., on the corner of East University Boulevard and North Park Avenue, which lost its lease in January.

The owners of Caribbean Squeezer's, located just around the corner, snatched up the spot and plans to open shop with the Coca-Cola Co. the week after spring break.

"Since the U of A has a deal with Pepsi, Coke realized this was the closet location they could get," said Jeff Warren, part owner of Caribbean Squeezer's.

Warren said the store will sell drinks, take-out sandwiches and cigarettes - hence the name "Cokes and Smokes."

But Alex Bouzari, owner of the now-ousted Fruitissimo, said he felt squeezed out.

He said the fruit-juice bar held the same spot, 751 N. Park Ave, since 1995 and expected the lease to be renewed.

"The lease was up for renewal yearly," Bouzari said. "But this January the Marshall Foundation chose not to renew it."

Chuck Jackson, spokesman for the Marshall Foundation, said they made the decision not to renew Fruitissimo's lease for a number of reasons. The lease's expiration topped that list, he said.

"We feel Caribbean Squeezer's will be a better tenant and operator," Jackson said.

When Caribbean Squeezer's moved in last May, Fruitissimo maintained a loyal clientele, Bouzari said.

"We have a very different smoothie than Caribbean Squeezer's - we only use natural ingredients," he said.

Bouzari will continue to serve his juice drinks at his other business - Delissimo, 749 E. University Blvd.