With a level in graphic design from Virginia Tech, McLean native Amir Mostafavi was touring in California within the late Nineties when he found freshly pressed juice, smoothies and acai bowls. He fell in love with the tradition of juice bars, however he couldn’t discover one thing comparable when he returned to the Washington, D.C., space.
After working for a short while within the company world, he felt the urge to work the place he might make a distinction locally and he determined that need could possibly be met by opening his personal enterprise. This led to launching a juice bar at George Washington College in 2004, and later his first South Block location in Clarendon in 2011.
Mostafavi, his spouse Sommer and their two kids Layla and Maddy now personal 13 South Block areas across the Washington, D.C., area and there are plans for extra enlargement sooner or later. They’re areas in Reston, he stated, and the McLean location is making ready to open subsequent month. South Block at Nationwide Touchdown in Amazon’s HQ2 opens this summer time.
In Loudoun County, the most recent South Block in Ashburn at One Loudoun opened Jan. 8. Mostafavi and his crew are excited to welcome the group to a grand opening occasion on Saturday, he stated, with the primary 100 folks receiving a mini-Warrior acai bowl.
South Block focuses on wholesome merchandise — corresponding to “skincare shakes” with collagen and sea moss, a wide range of freshly pressed juice mixtures, juice cleanses, smoothies and acai bowls. There are additionally seasonal objects which change often.
“The whole lot is hand crafted,” Mostafavi stated. “They’re all customized blended and made to order with no syrups or sorbets or ice added.”
The messaging across the enterprise is all about constructing positivity and promoting high quality merchandise to affect folks locally and assist them dwell more healthy lives, he stated.
His different focus is on employees coaching and improvement – and he locations an excellent significance on a enjoyable, constructive work setting which he calls the “no jerk rule.”
“After I began South Block that was my primary rule. We have now an excellent tradition and make an affect,” he stated.
Mostafavi grew up in an entrepreneurial household – his father was a professor of enterprise and advertising earlier than opening a video retailer in McLean.
“I grew up working there and knew each film. I at all times needed to open a enterprise of my very own,” he stated.
To additional his group affect, he has additionally created a nonprofit known as Fruitful Planet which donates a share of the gross sales to space nonprofits. In Loudoun, he’s partnering with Loudoun Starvation Reduction. He has additionally labored with colleges and different organizations to sponsor gardens and educate college students about wholesome dwelling.
“This greater objective has actually helped preserve me motivated,” he stated. “And so many are right here for that purpose.”
South Block’s first location in Loudoun started building a couple of 12 months in the past and he says the crew is “actually excited to be right here.”
“We at all times do what we will to assist construct a more healthy group one block at a time. We’re there to attempt to assist do our half,” he stated.
South Block is open at 20327 Change Road Monday by means of Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to five p.m. For extra info go to SouthBlock.com.
