Energy Nutrition Packs A Powerful--And Healthy--Punch for Its Customers

With the flats of young green grass growing on shelves in his shop, you might think that Erik Michor is helping out the florist next door.

But clearly, he's not. After six months of opening a business that he's dreamed about for 10 years, his passion for providing people with healthy living products and resources is paying off.

His flats actually contain wheatgrass, which he juices fresh on demand and serves in 1- or 2-ounce shots, giving people a powerful detoxification punch that cleanses the liver and neutralizes toxins in the body, according to Michor's website.

"We use organic soil and a special organic seed that produces a sweeter taste," Michor said.

Michor recently began opening at 6 a.m. because of customer requests for his early morning wheatgrass shots, as well as the organic fruit smoothies he whips up at his smoothie bar.

"We use real organic fruit from Timber Creek Farms in Yorkville. It's cleaned with an organic fruit and veggie wash. Then we chop it and flash freeze it. We only use stevia or agave syrup to sweeten the smoothies," he said.

The acai berry that he uses in the antioxidant smoothie comes from Brazil where it is juiced and flash frozen to retain nutrients.

While Michor said business was initially slow when he opened in January, the pace has picked up. Building on contacts with local gyms and health care professionals, his customers now include chiropractors, personal trainers and wellness clinic staff, in addition to everyday people looking for healthy, organic foods or the high quality sports supplements he carries.

Michor said that the professionals are coming to him because of his low prices, his loyalty program and his willingness to order products they request. In fact, because of repeated customer suggestions, Michor is now carrying grass-fed, hormone-free meats. He uses three local farms, two of which are also represented at Frankfort's on Sundays. He gets his bison from a farm in Nebraska.

"With grass-fed, you've got to be careful. Sometimes they'll have grain mixed in," Michor said, adding that the farms he uses feed with grass 100 percent of the time.

"There's a different taste. It's a leaner taste, but with grass-fed you get more Omega-3 fatty acids and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)," he added.

Along with vendors at the Country Market, Michor likes to network with other local contacts. He's now carrying some of Frankfort-based 's gluten-free items in his refrigerated case.

"It took a while, but all of a sudden it just took off. It's like we're outgrowing this space already. But I don't want to move. I like this area," he said of the store space he designed himself.

"It's a fun job because the customers always teach you something new," he added.

Energy Nutrition

Where: 20867 S. LaGrange Road, in the plaza. 
Hours: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 
Phone: 815-469-5339
More info: Michor said the store's Facebook page is the best place for updates on special events and new products, such as the fair trade organic coffee he'll soon be brewing by the cup and turning into specialty coffee drinks on request. The store also has its own website.

FRANKFORT BUSINESS BUZZ

• The Frankfort Chamber of Commerce July Meet, Greet & Network event for members is 8-9 a.m. Tuesday, July 19, at the building, 11000 W. Lincoln Hwy. RSVP to the Chamber office, 815-469-3356.
• , 459 W. Nebraska St., offers an ice cream catering menu with a minimum delivery order of $100. They also have all its products' nutritional information on its website. 
• posted on its Facebook page Sunday, July 17, that it has lots of Pink Poodle Coneflowers blooming and in stock at an equally attractive price for a long-blooming, hardy perennial.