Have you ever been in Chicago and tried to buy an authentic Philly cheese steak? Or walked around downtown Gettysburg wishing there was a place you could purchase, say, a pair of nice high heels? You probably know the feeling — neither can be done.
Well, that’s exactly the dilemma Phil Letendre, his team members, and their customers found themselves in, leading them to come up with a team-based solution.
As the owner of Gettysburg Performance Gym, Letendre values the feedback of his customers. So when the members of his circle began to cry out for more classes, more space, along with somewhere they could find post-workout drinks and healthy smoothies, he saw an opportunity.
The Gettysburg Smoothie Company arrived at 48 York St., just off the square, over the Memorial Day weekend.
What was once a former yoga studio is now a quiet reprieve away from the noisy hustle and bustle of town, a shelter out of the blazing heat and sun of the day, and a cozy nook where you can relax as you rehydrate or even make your own ice cream boat.
No need to feel guilty in this smoothie company though. With drinks like “Stars and Stripes, Revive” and “Super G,” the offerings are geared towards those looking to be health conscious and wanting only the best ingredients to refuel and recharge their bodies.
If you’re thinking a “healthy smoothie” couldn’t possibly be good, you’d be wrong; they are even better than they sound. That’s in part because the recipes come from the feedback the shop gets from the suggestions their customers give them (and because they are really good at what they do).
I tried a Blueberry Lagoon and was pleasantly pleased with every aspect of my smoothie – from its creamy texture, fresh fruit bites, ever so slight but somehow “just right” sweetness, to the feeling of actually being re-hydrated and refreshed during the hot day.
I can promise I will definitely be going back.
The Gettysburg Smoothie Company wants its customers to feel as good about themselves. You can not only feel good in the knowledge that you’re helping support local businesses within your community, but also find comfort in the certainty that you are making healthy choices for yourself. No ice is ever used and everything is made from a fruit base that is frozen on site and based on the concepts of hydration, amino acids, and electrolytes.
Letendre said he is planning to bring more of the classes that are offered at his gym to the new site, as well as future yoga classes, and said he had many other ideas for partnering with other local businesses to “bring more, much more; complete with all the treats and offerings,” to the community. But he wasn’t willing to spoil the surprise.
As a physical trainer and business owner, Letendre knows the value of hard work, sees the significance of teamwork, and recognizes that it takes the dedication of everyone to be successful in achieving one’s dreams.
“Without my team none of this would have been possible,” he said. “It’s all about them; they are the reasons Gettysburg Smoothie Company is what it is today.”
Holly Weaver, Reporter, was raised by two United States Marine Corps sergeants in West Chester Pennsylvania. She is a wife and a mother to four children. She tries to live by and teach my children that while every day may not be good, there is something good to be found in every day.