WYOgrown open, offers microGREENS and THINGS
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| WYOgrown microGREENS & THINGS is now open at 113 E 17th St - Optopolis |
Formerly occupied by Ruby Juice, WYOgrown microGREENS & THINGS softly opened last Friday and plans to soon have a grand opening, likely at some point over the next two to three weeks.
Historical glance
As previously shared, Ruby Juice, a locally owned smoothie/sandwich shop, opened in the early to mid-2000s. The building in which Ruby Juice resided was noted as built in approximately 1924 in the Laramie County Property Assessor GIS map.
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| The former Ruby Juice store front - Optopolis |
All the history of this building on East 17th Street is still vastly unknown here at Optopolis as of yet, but it's worth noting that the city directory from 1994 displays a place called Mossholders present at the address of the now-former Ruby Juice.
After multiple ownership changes in recent years, Ruby Juice ultimately closed in late 2023, being placed for sale. Back in February 2024, business owner, Isaiah Aragon, was working towards reopening the restaurant under a new name, WYOgrown microGREENS & THINGS.
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| This sign was previously displayed in front window of the former Ruby Juice - Optopolis |
It was already known that WYOgrown was intending to offer all kinds of healthier products in the restaurant while taking some inspiration from Ruby Juice. Isaiah also wanted to expand on the menu with new things Ruby Juice never offered before. As of February 2024, the space was still being prepared to open, but now that the restaurant softly opened, things at the restaurant are only just getting started.
WYOgrown's approach is unlike many "juice/smoothie" bars
The owner, Isaiah, shared with Optopolis that he has wanted to bring something to Cheyenne that wasn't particularly and readily available recently, and also provide something that is actually healthier and fresher--for instance, something that doesn't use a pre-made juice or concentrate which can contain preservatives/additives and have a higher lack of nutritional value.
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| Fresh fruit and veggies are used to make the liquid that makes up the final beverage. - Optopolis |
When you order a juice or smoothie, it's made right in front of you with fresh produce squeezed on the spot. The machine they use to squeeze the produce filters out the pulp while helping to get every drop liquid out of the produce. After that, one has the choice to get a small spoonful of micro greens added to their beverage, which can easily increase the nutritional value of the beverage.
Some beverages like the Sweet Potato Pie juice also have some additional ingredients added at the end (such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or the option of a more natural sweetener such as coconut sugar) that can further enhance the flavor of the beverage.
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| A size-small cup of Sweet Potato Pie Juice--Juices use the small and medium sizes of cups. - Optopolis |
There are several items currently available that are directly inspired by Ruby Juice, including Ruby Rapture, Strawberry Slam, and Blueberry Blitz. A worker at WYOgrown mentioned that the "Orange Julius" is a version of Ruby Juice's "Creamy Orange Cooler."
The teas are made in-house by The Fermented Leaf
A separate local business called The Fermented Leaf brews tea in-house that visitors can purchase from WYOgrown (that's what those taps along the back counter are for, seen inside of WYOgrown). According to their website, The Fermented Leaf creates kombucha that is "bursting with flavor, and brimming with natural probiotics."
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| These taps dispense freshly brewed kombucha probiotic fizzy tea that is created by The Fermented Leaf. - Optopolis |
What about food? Sandwiches, Wraps, Salads, etc.?
Isaiah isn't quite ready to put wraps, sandwiches, and the like on the menu just yet, but he plans to add those items to the menu soon.
Freeze-dried fruit, candy, and more
If you visit, you may notice pre-packaged freeze-dried foods hanging around the counter area including but not limited to apples, apple sauce, and oranges. Officially, they are under a separate business called Crunchies LLC which is owned by Nicole, Isaiah's wife. However, the freeze-dried foods are still made in-house at WYOgrown.
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| Part of the selection of freeze-dried foods. The kinds pictured here include Mixed Veggie, Strawberry Cheese Cake, Apple Pie, and Mixed Fruit. - Optopolis |
Isaiah had previously shared that he wanted to offer freeze-dried foods at WYOgrown. Isaiah shared with Optopolis that they plan to have more than just freeze-dried fruit, veggies, and candy available in the near future.
Microgreens
Right now, the shop uses Isaiah's own powdered version of micro greens that can be added to your beverage (or food once sandwiches and other foods are added to the menu). However, Isaiah plans to offer fresh microgreens soon, as well; currently, he plans to begin having fresh microgreens available starting in approximately two weeks.
Softly opened last Friday, grand opening unofficially announced
On Friday, May 17th, the new WYOgrown microGREENS & THINGS space officially opened to the public for the first time... softly of course. They were closed last Sunday due to extenuating circumstances otherwise unrelated to the storefront, but they were open for business once again the following day.
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| WYOgrown takes a customer's order, shop owner Isaiah pulls out his mixture of microgreens. - Optopolis |
Though they are still working the kinks out, many visitors have already given the shop a try. To boot, they are mainly focusing on juices and smoothies with plans to expand the menu with sandwiches and wraps soon.
The menu is anticipated to change over time based on the season and what kind of fruit is available; for instance, when peaches become more widely available later this summer, slightly different beverage options will likely include peaches in the ingredients.
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| This menu, seen on May 20th, is subject to change; Isaiah wants to reorganize the menu and also expand upon it. - Optopolis |
Isaiah hasn't announced an official day to hold the grand opening, but they expect to be able to have the grand opening sometime over the next couple weeks, likely around the turn of June.
For now, the restaurant is operating during the hours of, roughly, 10 AM to about 6 PM; the hours are subject to change in the coming weeks as things progress. WYOgrown is located at 113 East 17th Street, just west of Sanfords.
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