Apr 1

Apr 1 The Springs

“We like that anybody can walk in here off the street, grab a juice, drop into a yoga class, and see if there is a massage opening,” says Jared Stein, co-owner of The Springs. “Ninety percent of people who walk in here aren’t vegan or on a detox or anything,” adds Kimberly Helms, The Springs’ other half.

The Springs is a communal experience, grounded in healthy lifestyle practices — a one-stop shop for health, wellness, and community. It’s a juice bar, restaurant, yoga studio, communal space, and wellness center. Everything you see at The Springs — and there’s much to see in the capacious, old cinder-blocked Arts District factory — is a reflection of who Jared & Kimberly are and what their lifestyle became on Broadway before they moved Downtown from New York almost four years ago.

The couple fell in love with the Arts District when they were touring through LA with one of their Broadway shows and happened upon the area. “We saw what was here and felt this buzz and energy of something about to take off in the neighborhood. So we just set our sights on it and decided we were going to leave New York and move out here,” says Jared. “He says set our sights,” adds Kimberly, “but he literally did do the ‘stop the car, this is it! We’re moving here… we’re building it here!’ And then we did.”

The juice bar is prominent, spanning the righthand wall as you enter. Along with executive chef Michael Falso, the endeavor was to meet certain flavor profiles you see at standard juice bars, but then experiment with subtle changes — adding one or two ingredients to make them feel unique. Take the Skinny Dip: still a regular citrus juice, The Springs took grapefruit, lemon, lime, and blood orange to give it a slightly distinct flavor and color. A bolder choice is the Lantern, a spicy concoction of cucumber, jalapeno, cilantro, and pineapple.

Sure, the juices are amazing, healthy, and all 100% organic, but you can take one home and throw some vodka in there too; it acts as a great mixer. “We’re not those people… that have an agenda or are trying to be perfect,” says Jared. “We understand that beer and wine and alcohol are a part of being social, so take it home and throw some tequila in it.”

The real treasure is their aromatic oasis, hidden in the back of the warehouse. The “wellness center” is up a small flight of stairs, behind the kitchen and bar, and is a haven for the ailing mind and body. Unwind with yoga, guided meditation, deep-tissue massage, fire cupping, and the Bartholomew Method — a surreal hot-rock massage experience performed by it’s trailblazing namesake, Sean Bartholomew. And yes, of course they offer colon hydrotherapy.

You don’t need to purchase a package or membership to enjoy the range of juices and wellness offerings. Anybody really can walk in and take a seat at the bar, get a massage, or take a yoga class. “We didn’t want it to feel like there was any exclusivity and that you had to be a member to walk in the door here,” Jared explains. It’s all good vibes.