This health bar with shakes, smoothies, and acai bowls just opened west of the Narrows
Serve Nutrition in Key Center is open, serving protein shakes and snacks.
If you’re looking for a healthy hangout spot, stop by Serve Nutrition at 8912 Key Peninsula Highway NW.
Elli and Blake Lechner leased the space at at 8912 Key Peninsula Highway NW. The space was formerly a gift shop, Cozy Country Keepsakes.
The Key Peninsula is the Lechner’s community, Elli previously told the Gateway.
Even though the build out and remodel of the space was complete in July, she told the Gateway Thursday, Nov. 9, that inspection delays kept pushing back their opening day.
They softly opened the doors Nov. 6.
Lechner said this first week of business has been amazing and that they’ve met a lot of new people in the community.
The menu offers teas, smoothies, shakes, energy tea drinks and acai bowls.
Protein oatmeal and other snacks will hit the menu after final health inspections.
Every protein shake at Serve can be a meal replacement due to the fact that they all have 21 essential vitamins and nutrients, Lechner said, including calcium, iron and magnesium.
Some flavors include Snickers, peanut butter waffle, and fruit salad.
Shake options range from 200-250 calories each, with 24 grams of protein or more. They have dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan options.
All shakes at Serve are Heart-Check certified by the American Heart Association as low-calorie, high-nutrient, high-protein, full meal replacement options.
Their energy tea drinks, “tea bombs,” have B-vitamins, ginseng, a blend of teas, and 1 gram of sugar.
Lechner’s favorite is the watermelon Jolly Rancher tea bomb.
“Sometimes when somebody is lacking on B-vitamins, it can make them feel lethargic and tired,” Lechner said. “Instead of getting some type of B-vitamin shot, you can drink them and they taste amazing.”
‘More than a nutrition bar’
When visitors walk into Serve, to the left they’ll find the bar where they can order and watch them make the snacks. Toward the back of the building it opens up to provide additional table seats and couch spots to hang out with friends.
“We are so much more than a nutrition bar,” Lechner said. “Our mission is to get the Key Peninsula healthy and spread positivity.”
Elli Lechner has been in the health and fitness industry for many years and used to own a nutrition bar in Arizona.
“I absolutely love helping people with health and nutrition, simply because at one point in my life I really struggled with my health and I was overweight,” Lechner previously told the Gateway.
She said at one point she connected with someone who taught her about good nutrition and an active lifestyle. The help she received inspired her to have a career helping others, which led her to the fire service.
Blake Lechner is a military veteran and now works with law enforcement.
“We both have to stay healthy for our jobs and we love promoting health and fitness to those around us,” Elli previously said.
They’re planning a grand opening party with live music and giveaways, once they’ve finished final inspections with the health department.
Leah Justine, a local country singer, will sing at the event.
This story was originally published November 12, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
