Bliss
I have only purchased one proper smoothie ever since Bagelby’s closed down 6 or 7 years ago — until tonight.
Matt humored me and let me go out on a search for a smoothie — a real smoothie, not a concentrate with ice drink. No, a real smoothie is fruit juice, frozen fruit, and sherbet or frozen yogurt blended together fresh when you order it. Matt and I make them, using our Bagelby’s experience, every summer, but personally I prefer the sherbet/yogurt over the ice cream that we have ended up using.
My first stop was at Espresso World, despite their reader board’s atrocities against language, punctuation, and philosophy. I asked what was in their smoothies and was told it was a concentrate blended with ice. I made my apologies, stating that I was on a search for a smoothie with blended frozen fruit. The girl behind the counter got a strange glow behind her eyes. “I don’t want to send customers away,” she said, “but I was just at this new place today called ‘Smoovies’ and they had that kind of smoothie.” I got directions, it was not too far, and I was off.
It was well worth the attempt! They had 10 or more variations of authentic just-like-Bagelby’s smoothies. They only opened two weeks ago and look like they’re trying to keep a their fingers in a few different pots to stay afloat (along with smoothies and ice cream and coffee they sell electronics and home decor — pretty odd). They will be showing movies outside in the evening during the summer and have very nice sitting and activity areas in their storefront. The activities — arcades, board games, family movies — are free; you only pay reasonable (for a little, locally-owned, specialty, non-franchise place) prices for the food and drink.
I hope it works out for them. They have a website with specials and even a coupon for the month of May. If you’re in Tri-Cities, go taste a real smoothie.
