Identical twins Kathy Isakson-Turner and Kris Isakson, owners of Custom Smoothie, also have matching personalities. They are excited about their new smoothie shop in the up-and-coming South Lake Union (SLU) neighborhood. The sisters host pop-up studios at their smoothie locations, inviting fitness programs to share their floor space to offer classes from yoga to boot camps and even run clubs. We interviewed the health-conscious and friendly owners of Custom Smoothie, and here's what we learned:
When did you open Custom Smoothie in South Lake Union? And why did you pick that location to open another shop?
We opened Custom Smoothie SLU In October 2010 -- we have been waiting for the area to fill up in all the terrific new office spaces. It has been on our radar for one-and-a-half years. We like to be in business communities in healthy areas of Seattle. We are a terrific option for a variety of different people with different lifestyle and nutrition needs. We have options for people who have food allergies, healthy and strict diet regimes or just if you are on the go.
What motivated you to start your own healthy smoothie line?
We are both health enthusiasts with very different fitness styles. Kris is into body sculpting with weights and cardio and has done numerous bodybuilding shows, and I (Kathy) like to go outdoors and do activities like running and yoga. We were retail executives who lead very busy lives and we were on the go all the time, so we always found it a challenge to eat healthy. We decided it was time to do something about it and opened our first Custom Smoothie in Fremont in 2006.
What are your three most popular smoothie orders?
That's an easy one! The Lean & Mean Lite -- protein, peanut butter and bananas, all for 300 calories ... yummy! The second would be the Berry Berry, full of whole fruit strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, blended with a little non-fat moo and protein, and the Island Passion, peaches, mangos, bananas, strawberries and coconut. We use whole unsweetened fruit in our smoothies. It makes a big difference in flavor and nutrition.
Love your pop-up studio fitness groups. Do you do this at your other locations?
We have done an outdoor Sunset Yoga series in our Fremont shop for the last three years. We practice yoga outside along the canal and have smoothies afterward, as well as a wintertime Yoga Bootcamp. We also sponsor the Cycle U Cycling team. They ride out from our store in Fremont, then they recover with a Custom Smoothie post-workout. Their favorite is the Lean & Mean Lite Hot (blended hot without ice, it's like a peanut butter mocha). We also do a ton of runs with running clubs in the spring and summer from the smoothie shop in Fremont. We have bathrooms and areas to put personal belongings in the SLU and Fremont stores, and parking is plentiful.
What are your four favorite places in the South Lake Union neighborhood and why?
Rain Fitness -- we love this gym; the staff is very friendly and the gym is amazing. The Whole Foods is spectacular, South Lake Union Park is Kathy's favorite running trail. And the Cycle U cycling team.
Custom Smoothie, South Lake Union: 428 Westlake Ave. N.; 206-382-5522; Fremont: 462 N. 34th St.; 206-547-5522
Quick Guide to Kathy and Kris' Faves:
Rain Fitness, 311 Terry Ave N.; 206-621-7246
Whole Foods, 2210 Westlake Ave.; 206-621-9700
South Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave. N.; 206-684-7254
Cycle U, 5440 Sand Point Way NE; 206-523-1122