Today we’d like to introduce you to Marissa Marron.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born and raised in the Near North Side of Houston, which back then was a low-income area, and in some aspects still is. This neighborhood is starting to change, and gentrification in full force. As a young woman, my life experiences have consisted of poverty but also opportunity. In 1996, I was accepted to HSPVA here in Houston. This was the first time I able to see that not everyone lived in poverty. Not everyone lived in a house with five siblings and one parent. I was able to meet people who never had to worry about bills, food, abuse. They had a privilege that I never had the chance to experience. But in going to this school and meeting these people, I started to see the difference between the areas, the disparities, and the fact that my reality was very different. The years leading up to me getting my college degree, I was 30 when I received my degree, by the way, I decided to major in sociology. To many, this degree is the bottom of the barrel and doesn’t get much respect like a degree in biology, accounting, or engineering would, but with this, I learned how to describe the world around me.
I learned that poverty was intentional, that the disparities in certain areas were intentional, and resources are purposely scarce for some, and abundant for others. One thing I learned that stuck with me, was when I learned what a “Food Desert” was (a low-income census tract where either a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store). There is a report that the county does every year, reporting on all the health/diet related deaths, and I’ll never forget the concentration of red dots in the low-income areas, specifically, the northeast area, Fifth Ward, North Side, Kashmere Gardens, etc. This angered me, but it also gave me a passion for making sure in some way I was able to combat these Food Deserts and “Food Insecurity” (the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food). So I started making juice for the people in the neighborhood. I was delivering before work, during lunch, after work, on the weekends, or people would drive by in the wee hours of the morning to pick up their juice. People wanted better options. It wasn’t that they didn’t care if all they ate was fast-food, but rather, that these options were just not available. That was about 3-4 years ago.
Today, i’m in our store, located in what is known as a Food Dessert….my home. We have had our doors open for a month and the gratitude from others for being in the neighborhood is overwhelming. People are appreciative that we are here, and they thank us frequently for being here. It makes me feel good about what we’re doing. To know that we are making our people happy gives me joy, and it solidifies that I am exactly where I need to be. Providing cleaner options to the neighborhood that I love so much. This is just one piece to the puzzle. There is so much need in this community, and I want to do my best to help every cause in the neighborhood, but at the very least, I can do this. I can make sure that our people are not killing themselves because there are no other healthy options. We’re here to stay. As long as we have customers, we will make sure we fill their needs.
Has it been a smooth road?
Of course there have been unexpected issues, expenses, all kinds of trials and tribulations. You doubt your purpose, you doubt that this was meant for you because it gets so hard. My husband and I lose a lot of sleep just thinking of all the things we need to get done, the next move, where the resources to pay for our dream will come from, but when people say thank you for being here, when we meet homeless people who are vegan and intellectuals, when we are able to help organize events that benefit the community, it makes it all worth it. The stress, sleepless nights, the financial hardship, we know that if we keep pushing, we’ll get to where we want to be and grow the business the way we both envision it.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Juice Caboose, Inc. – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are a juice shop that offers cold-pressed juice, wellness shots, smoothies, coffee, and handcrafted body care handcrafted by me. We believe that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body. We also showcase local artist and creators. We want this to be a place where people can relax, study, work, converse about the world around us, we just want people to love coming here, and so far, I think they are pleased. We are most proud of the relationships we have built with the people who come into our store. We have met longtime residents and newbies, all with different stories and life experiences. Each person that comes into our store are more than just customers, we are getting to know everyone individually and I’m and so proud and honored that these people come in and spend their hard earned money with us. Without them, without their support, we couldn’t operate. I don’t take the support for granted for one minute. We are different from other juice bars because we are purposely placing ourselves in an under-served community to make sure, that those residents no longer have to search for healthy options in the Heights, Downtown, or Montrose. We are here. We had the opportunity to be in the Heights, but my heart has always been in the North Side. I would have made a lot of money in the heights, but I chose to wait, and the opportunity presented itself and here we are.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Houston, but I love the North Side more. I love the struggle. I love what we represent. A mixture of black and brown people, and now our new neighbors, who get to experience the North Side. The food, the people, the community. We are tight. And every day we make new friends and establish new relationships. It’s what we live for.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3804 Elysian Street
- Website: www.juicecaboose-htx.com
- Phone: 3462122370
- Email: juicecaboosehtx@gmail.com
- Instagram: juicecaboosehtx
- Facebook: Juice Caboose, Inc.
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
