Health-oriented eatery opens downtown

Last edited 11:29 a.m., Sept. 24, 2019

Downtown visitors have a new healthy dining option with the Sept. 19 opening of Tonik Sweetwater Saloon.

Located two doors down from Japanese restaurant Kai, Tonik operates in nearly 4,000 square feet at 310 S. Campbell Ave. Co-owners Nick Verheyen and business partner Todd Smiley both have worked in construction, but the new eatery marks the pair’s debut in the food and beverage industry.

“The hope is to not be out there on the daily grind anymore,” Verheyen said, adding he still currently maintains his Verheyen Construction LLC business he’s had for the past 17 years. Tonik is operated under Spry Health & Juice Bar LLC.

The restaurant serves smoothie and juice drinks, as well as health-focused food options including avocado toast, acai bowls, fruit salad and pita wraps.  Beer and wine are planned, though the owners have not yet secured a liquor license.

“We tried to price everything right,” he said, noting nothing on the menu costs more than $8.

Verheyen said he and Smiley began talking about the healthy dining concept around four months ago.

“It was a fast turn,” Verheyen said of finding the downtown property and renovating it for about 10 weeks before opening.

Saving money by taking on some of the renovation themselves, the two have invested about $60,000, he added. The business is on a three-year lease for an undisclosed rate with Tillman Redevelopment LLC. Previous tenants included clothing and accessories store Distorted Utopia LLC and Star Cakes LLC.

The eatery currently employs four, he said, but expects to soon add at least two more to the staff.

Visitors also will soon be able to get in some exercise when a yoga studio opens in an approximate 630-square-foot space in the building. Verheyen said Tonik’s Sweetwater Yoga Studio is targeting an Oct. 2 opening, adding it also will operate under the company LLC.

“We want to get those people as part of our customer base too,” he said of future yoga students. He estimates approximately nine instructors will offer classes at the studio.