Wedged between an abandoned gift shop, and a “Chinese restaurant” I can never remember the name of, sits one of Tampa’s indie gems, Urban Juice Co. Centrally located on Franklin Street, and across the way from two downtown favorites, Taco Bus and Fresh, Urban Juice Co. celebrated its grand opening of this flagship store on May 15th of 2014.

The owners take pride in their heritage of “The Franklin”, a space defined as one of downtown Tampa’s oldest landmark properties, which is immediately apparent by the tall, refurbished front doors. These small, historic pieces that they saved throughout give their business a touch of nostalgia that really adds to the experience, making it more inviting.

The design is kept simple, and not overwhelming. Exposed brick meets clean, glossy walls with simple molding. Raw, wooden frames sit on the walls in straight lines. Vintage hanging lights drape the high, industrial ceiling in small rows, adding to the subdued lighting. The entire place is a perfect blend of yesteryear charm, and modern cleanliness.

During my visit, I tried two juices. The first was from their premade section, which they tout of being made daily, so you’re assured the freshest product. “Little Miss Sunshine” features only four ingredients; orange, lemon, lime, and agave. This one was especially tart (duh?), but still had a sweet finish to it. I envision it would be very nice for breakfast, or maybe even with a sweet pastry as a side.

My second juice was a sample size, which I am told is one of the favorites. And rightfully so. “Pretty In Pink” blends pineapple, pear, orange, beet, lemon, and ginger. This one is just the right amount of sweet, with a bite at the end from the ginger, slightly tempered by the beet. All of the ingredients added up to a perfect juice for me. One that didn’t really leave me wanting. I will definitely get a full serving next visit.

Now, I wouldn’t really call myself a “Juice Guy”, but many of the ones I’ve tried by places/brands of the same nature tend to be too bitter, or too sour for my tastes, and I’m just not about that. So, these juices were a very refreshing and tasty change of pace than what I’m used to having. Urban Juice Co has a lot going for it. Their marriage of the classic and the modern creates a unique, cozy atmosphere to sit with a friend and chat, or even catch up on some work, or emails, all while enjoying some quality juice. And if juice isn’t your thing, there are other treats that they offer (which I haven’t tried yet), such as, salads, wraps, froyo, and “coffee mylks”.

Urban Juice Co. is located on 510 N. Franklin St. Tampa, FL 33602.
Open Monday-Friday: 7am–7pm, Saturday: 9am–4pm, Sunday: 11am–4pm.