Meet Wesley Colmenares of Juiced-Up! Enterprises in South Central LA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wesley Colmenares.

Wesley, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
On January 2018, I quit my job from a company that did not do a good job at keeping employee morale up. As an office manager, I was not happy working there. I found another company to work for as an office manager for an interior designer. I thought it was a dream come true, given the fact that I was hired even before I was able to give my two weeks notice.

Two weeks after I was hired, however, the owner simply said he was unable to afford me and handed me my paycheck and sent me home. Around the same time a friend who was working for LA Fitness was looking for a sales representative, being that I was in desperate need to pay bills, I took the job. Working there for several months, members often approached my desk asking if there was a juice bar around or a place where they could get an energy drink. My brain started to dream on having a juice bar, possibly in that location. I started doing the research on cost, but most importantly doing the math on revenues. I was hypnotized with the potential money I could make.

Since LA Fitness was not providing the type of income, I was told I would make and the time spent at the gym was more than monetary outcome. I had to quit. The dream of my own juice bar never left however. I tried to network with the VP of operation and ask about utilizing a space on a corner at the gym that was being misused. He probably saw me as a nobody because he brushed me off as if I were lint on his clothing. That lit a fire under my ego and I decided to make it mobile instead. The months that came were both exciting and terrifying. I had no job, I couldn’t apply for unemployment but my search for a food truck was still happening. I consulted with several food truck manufacturers and was quoted on a custom trailer for no less the 45K. I didn’t have that kind of money and no bank lends to start-ups.

Although they had a lending program, the requirements, although lenient, I couldn’t meet them. I spoke to God several times asking to be enlightened and to show me the way. One day I found a truck going for $5,500 dollars on craigslist. I contacted the seller and we scheduled an appt. to meet. The trailer was perfect for a startup! Except, it would have had to pass LA county inspection, and according to a local manufacturer who the seller had consulted with in the past, this trailer wouldn’t pass. The seller gave me the number to the food truck manufacturer who I visited the same day. After speaking about my struggles and his struggles as a Latino entrepreneur we had a connection. Brothers Karts who ended up manufacturing my food trailer had a person who worked with start-ups and would help me get the loan. But I had to put 30% down first. I opted to use my American express, which had zero interest, at that time, somehow knowing that I would find a job soon to at least make payments until the trailer was ready. Seven months later, we got the trailer.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has not been smooth from day 1. First, driving a trailer was a challenge within itself. Several challenges occur after our first day out. My partner and I went out to practice driving and also finding sites. We ended up in Cerritos CA close to a Crunch Fitness gym where I had been several years back a noticed there was no juice bar. We did not have a menu to display, so we whipped up a smoothie and handed out samples, and that’s the one we sold. The next day, we were out venturing our next site. We thought being in white neighborhoods would have been profitable. WRONG! We didn’t sell anything, not one! God let us to station ourselves on Washington Blvd. in South Central and there people were so much more intrigued and welcoming that we decided to stay there during the morning shifts. Soon local businesses felt that we were taking their clientele and started calling parking enforcement. In one day, we got three tickets. We decided to call the am shift in that location quits. I spent two weeks looking online and sending my employee to different sites. Non was a good fit.

A few months before we landed at the Culver City Stairs which we frequented on the weekends but never the weekdays. I didn’t think anyone worked out during the weekday, at the stairs at least. Being the middle of the summer, I sent my employee to check it out. That day we made almost $700 dollars in sales. Jackpot! – Since I mentioned the stairs, an already established food truck frequents the same site on the weekends. They too were giving us problems and harassed us so that we could leave. Being the person that I am, I take bullying very seriously, especially when it comes to my business. Leaving was not an option. We are now good terms. Other challenges were faced that tried bringing my morale down: like flat tire, generator not working, employee quitting, scratching trailer, new employee creating a mess in the trailer so on so forth. But I’m still standing. Now that we are on “cruised control” we are struggling with finding sites on rainy days. But I think we found one in DTLA Santee Alleys, but I was also being harassed by a local business, once again. But guess what? I had the right to stay, their security personnel called the cops and the cops said I was ok to be there.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Juiced-Up! Enterprises story. Tell us more about the business.
Our business to is to provide supplementation that is beneficial for optimum health through protein smoothies.

We cater to bodybuilders and those who are serious about their physic but lack the knowledge of nutrition through supplementation.

We specialize in preparing smoothies or smoothie bowls with a high protein content to fulfill your macros.

I am most proud of the brand because even though it’s a startup, I am often asked if its a franchise.

What sets us apart from others is that we carefully select supplements that can be whipped into a smoothie or bowl without altering the flavor of the other condiments (fruits or vegetables) while giving you additional health benefits.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Although luck definitely exists. Speaking to God has led me to making my decisions.

I always ask him for a sign and he always comes through.

I supposed I’m lucky that I’m able to tell when he has spoken and that I can ask anything and he’ll respond. Most people don’t have that relationship with God. Or the Universe.

Contact Info:

• Address: Culver City Stairs Mon – Sun 6 am – 1 pm
  Planet Fitness Mon – Thu 6 pm – 10:30 pm
  Events: Black History Month (Leimert Park), Obama Blvd. ignaguration (May), Taste of Soul (June) Muscle Beach Venice (Memorial, Independance, Labor day, Dec. 1 – Toy Drive)
• Website: www.juicedupaf.com
• Phone: 562-659-2109
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: Juiced_upaf
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juicedupaf

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