special to The democrat

NATCHEZ &8212; Smoothie King, the originator of the nutritional, fruit-based smoothie, will open the doors to Natchez&8217;s first lifestyle center on Dec. 18.

George Weeks will open the new Smoothie King at 112 U.S. 61 South, next to Pizza Hut.

Smoothie King offers more than 40 smoothies made to order with real fruit, all-natural juices, and a functional mix of vitamins and nutrients to fit every need or lifestyle.

Whether a guest is looking to gain or lose weight, build muscle, boost immunity or complement a workout, Smoothie King&8217;s trained team members can help educate and help guests choose a smoothie right for them.

The new Smoothie King, at 1,200 square feet, will also offer an array of healthy living products, including energy bars, snacks and vitamin supplements.

&8220;I&8217;m proud to introduce Smoothie King to the residents of Natchez,&8221; said Weeks, franchisee of the new Smoothie King.

&8220;We are confident the community will embrace the concept and enjoy the great taste and health benefits of our smoothies and products.&8221;

Originally from New Orleans, Weeks has lived in Mississippi for three years. After evacuating Picayune for Hurricane Katrina and closing his first Smoothie King store in Bay St. Louis due to damage from the storm, Weeks and his wife, Susan, moved to Natchez in February to relocate their personal and professional lives.

&8220;Natchez is a wonderful community and poised for tremendous growth.With the significant development in the area and heavy traffic on Highway 61, our new Smoothie King location will be ideal for those passing through,&8221; Weeks said.

Plus, the added convenience of our drive-thru will make it even easier for guests to stop by and pick up one of the many smoothies or other health products we offer.&8221;

The new store hours will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Smoothie King&8217;s founder and CEO, Steve Kuhnau, began making smoothies in response to his own health issues and food allergies.

After more than 30 years and 430 Smoothie King stores in 34 states later, Kuhnau and his wife Cindy, Smoothie King&8217;s co-founder, accomplished their desire to bring healthful products to mainstream America.

&8220;Our mission is to relentlessly influence more and more people to achieve a healthier lifestyle,&8221; said Kuhnau.

&8220;We are excited to spread that mission and extend our concept to the Natchez area by offering healthy, great-tasting options for people on the go.&8221;

According to Juice Gallery Multimedia, a juice bar and restaurant consulting and publishing company, the retail juice and smoothie bar industry is facing a tremendous amount of growth, with retail sales expected to reach approximately $2 billion in 2006.