Ruby Jean's "north star" is longevity through juice
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A mural inside the store on Troost, next to an image of Ruby Jean herself. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
What began as a healthy alternative to soul food in Kansas City's East Side has become a hub for community building and longevity.
Why it matters: We're continuing our February spotlight on Black-owned businesses with a look at Ruby Jean's Juicery, a local cold-pressed juice company with nationwide reach.
Zoom in: Chris Goode, founder of Ruby Jean's, named the business after his grandmother, whom he believes would have lived longer with a healthier diet.
- "I wanted to make a place that, it felt, and actually was, healing," Goode tells Axios, adding that he wants to change the stereotype that an "area like this can only support barbecue."
Catch up quick: The business opened in 2015 and moved its main store and kitchen to 3000 Troost Ave. in 2017. Its second location, inside the Whole Foods at 301 E. 51st St. in KCMO, opened in 2019.
- Goode says the partnership with Whole Foods has led to expanded distribution in the last two years: "We are selling juice from Hawaii all the way to D.C."
How it works: Goode says the company uses high-pressure processing, which kills bacteria, to extend juice shelf life to 150 days without any additives or heat.
What they're saying: Goode says his "north star is longevity." He doesn't want people's lifespan to be determined by the ZIP code in which they live.
- "We want to spend as much time on the porch with our grandparents and our friends, kicking back, as we humanly can."
To that effect, Ruby Jean's Foundation provides free juice to kids, picks up trash, and operates a community garden — trading sweat equity for fresh produce.
- Goode, who is running for City Council in 2027 in the 3rd District, says juice is the vehicle for effecting larger change in the community.
The bottom line: Goode says the reach of his advocacy has grown "tremendously" with the expansion of his business — but the heart of the mission has remained the same.