Crisp & Green to open June 1 in northwest Rochester

May 24—ROCHESTER — A new spot for health food fans is opening in Rochester on June 1.

Crisp & Green is a rapidly growing chain that serves made-to-order salads, grain bowls and smoothies. It has about 40 locations across the U.S. with 15 restaurants in the Twin Cities area and about 15 Minnesota locations in the pipeline. Crisp & Green has been trying to line up a spot in Rochester for a while.

"We're just really excited to see how the community itself is expanding with all the development that's going up," said Courtney Earle, the franchise marketing manager for Crisp & Green. "We're excited to be able to bring our food and the fitness aspect to the people of Rochester. Rochester is just growing like crazy. So, the brand is just really excited about the development in order to reach more people."

Crisp & Green specializes in fast-casual, health-conscious options including salads, grain bowls, smoothies and acai bowls, catering to individuals with busy lifestyles. And there's plans to expand the menu in the future.

"We're very much in tune with catering to busy lifestyles, people who are on the go, but are looking for that healthy option," Earle said. "We're not just about serving food but really we're a health and wellness brand."

The company values community involvement and hopes to continue to partner with other businesses in Rochester. Crisp & Green has already started building its connections by having a pre-opening fundraiser on May 31, 2024. Wishes and More will be taking cash donations at the door in exchange for a free salad or grain bowl on May 31 between 5 and 8 p.m. The organization is a charity based out of the Twin Cities that helps grant wishes for children with terminal illnesses.

"Whether it be a child with terminal illness or it's somebody who's just taking that first step and wanting to be healthier," said Earle. "We tried to meet people where are. I keep saying it but it's truly like the best way to say it. We want to be accessible to all the types of people that want to take their health seriously."

Additionally they will have an opportunity for the community to try a grain bowl or salad on June 1 from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. when guests download their app on opening day. Green & Crisp has also partnered with Orange Theory to host a free class in the parking lot from 9:30 a.m. until 10:15 a.m.

Crisp & Green often tries to host one event a month, usually on the second Saturday. They partner with nutritionists for talks and trainers for some beginner-friendly classes at the restaurant.

"People love it," said Earle. "It's so encouraging. I've been with Crisp & Green for a couple years now and there are people who are like 'this is my first fitness class ever' and it's with Crisp and Green and our partner. It's just really inspiring to see that we're making it accessible."

There can be a lot of intimidation when it comes to eating healthy. Crisp & Green offers a mix of foods people know of and are comfortable with first and allow for people to build their own bowls.

"Trying to take that first step can be scary, but we have something for everyone and you see those things that you might be more familiar with, if it's like a cookie or a Coke and you want to pair that with a salad," said Earle. "We're here to meet you where you're at."