Jamba Juice
Originally I was intimidated by Jamba Juice stores. I know what you're thinking; how can anyone be intimidated by a Jamba Juice store? Well, I was. In the morning I'd always see people coming out of there with yoga mats strapped to their back, and some of the people coming out of there weren't the trimmest people around. This led me to a number of false assumptions. First I thought: perhaps the "juice" is actually loaded with other crap that is causing these people to pack on weight in the guise of a healthy beverage. Secondly, the yoga mats led me to believe that this was some new-agey haven where people were doing yoga, chanting, burning incense, and being all around 'spiritual' while sipping crazy beverages. Just the kind of wacky place that could actually fly out here with the yuppy liberal hippy crowd, but would be run out of town back home in Boston. Additionally, seeing the word "jambaism" on advertising was annoying enough to seal the deal; I was never going.
However, with a friend visiting from out of town and a warm sunny day I decide to go find out what these hippy liberals were experiencing in hopes of finding my own personal nirvana. The first thing that I noted as we strolled down the street was a yoga studio. My world immediately started to crumble and the bricks really flew when I saw a weight loss clinic across the street. At this point, I had to assess my assumptions and realize that they were completely wrong. Well not completely, Jamba Juice still had to answer for the phrase "Jambaism" and the potential of 'spiritual' music and other new age stuff hiding inside.
Noting many customers inside, I paused at the door peering in, ready to take the plug. As I stepped in I was greeted with some rock/techno sort of music with allayed the rest of my fears. I looked up at the menu and picked the first thing that looked appetizing to me, a banana berry. Apparently everyone else was just standing there lost in a world somewhere between this one and the next. (Incidentally ever time I've been there since there are a number of people just standing around. They aren't waiting for orders or trying to decide on something. They are just standing around. Baffling.) I stepped up to the counter and told the teen taking my order, "I'd like a banana berry please." This is where things got confusing. She replied, "Do you want an original?" Hmm... do I want an original? How do I know? An original what? What are my options? Orginal or new? version 2? I was thinking, "I don't know how to answer that question, what are you talking about?", but answered "yes, original." Apparently I tricked her into thinking I was an old pro at this jamba thing, because she punched it into the computer and I thought I was home free. Unfortunately I was wrong. She next came forth with, "would you like a free boost?" Here's where I panicked. What does she mean now? As I considered making a run for the door, I started to remember why I had avoided Jamba Juice in the first place. though I probably could have made it out the door and down the street before anyone really knew what was happening, Iu ltimately elected to stay on and fight my way through the difficult quiz, I tried to guess on what a boost could be. Anything I could think of would be completely out of place here. So, instead of saying yes this time I made a bigger mistake. "What would I do with a boost?", I asked. The girl (and some of the people I thought were zoning out) snickered. Then, twisting her hair while she pointed at the big board behind her the girl answered in a you-must-be-a-complete-moron tone that text can't reproduce, "so you get a free boost out of these six, anything you want." After reading the first one I figured out what a "boost" was. Btw, she kept emphasizing the "ooo" sound in boost in a way that made me want to snap back ruuudely at her.
Really though, how was I supposed to know the jargon? Look more closely at the menu you might say? You have to be kidding me, that place is a visual jambalaya of colors and shapes all around, I just wanted to get in and get out as quickly as possible. I choose the protein boost and the rest of my visit went without incident (except for the dog that ran over and jumped on my leg, but we'll get to San Franciscan's affinity for poorly behaved dogs on another day). It is a little weird when you get your drink though. Even if you see them perparing it and are standing right next to the counter, they insist on yelling your name and order at the top of their lungs. As someone who doesn't like attention drawn to what I'm doing or ordering, it's a little over the top. However, I must say I really enjoyed the Jamba Juice.
I have now been to Jamba Juice 4 times in the last week and am boderline addicted. I've even been heard at work saying foolish things like, "wanna go to jambaworld", which morphed into "let's go get a Jamba." Though I have not and likely will not forgive them for the annoying buzzword (which San Francisco also has way too many of) jambaism, and the way they oooo the word boost, my first impression was completely wrong and based from suppositions without knowing much of anything about the place. A good lesson for me to learn and note as I explore my new city. In retrospect though, it was much easier to build up a false persona for Jamba Juice and give me a reason to stay away than it was to go exploring it. Another alarming thing worth noting as I blunder around...
However, with a friend visiting from out of town and a warm sunny day I decide to go find out what these hippy liberals were experiencing in hopes of finding my own personal nirvana. The first thing that I noted as we strolled down the street was a yoga studio. My world immediately started to crumble and the bricks really flew when I saw a weight loss clinic across the street. At this point, I had to assess my assumptions and realize that they were completely wrong. Well not completely, Jamba Juice still had to answer for the phrase "Jambaism" and the potential of 'spiritual' music and other new age stuff hiding inside.
Noting many customers inside, I paused at the door peering in, ready to take the plug. As I stepped in I was greeted with some rock/techno sort of music with allayed the rest of my fears. I looked up at the menu and picked the first thing that looked appetizing to me, a banana berry. Apparently everyone else was just standing there lost in a world somewhere between this one and the next. (Incidentally ever time I've been there since there are a number of people just standing around. They aren't waiting for orders or trying to decide on something. They are just standing around. Baffling.) I stepped up to the counter and told the teen taking my order, "I'd like a banana berry please." This is where things got confusing. She replied, "Do you want an original?" Hmm... do I want an original? How do I know? An original what? What are my options? Orginal or new? version 2? I was thinking, "I don't know how to answer that question, what are you talking about?", but answered "yes, original." Apparently I tricked her into thinking I was an old pro at this jamba thing, because she punched it into the computer and I thought I was home free. Unfortunately I was wrong. She next came forth with, "would you like a free boost?" Here's where I panicked. What does she mean now? As I considered making a run for the door, I started to remember why I had avoided Jamba Juice in the first place. though I probably could have made it out the door and down the street before anyone really knew what was happening, Iu ltimately elected to stay on and fight my way through the difficult quiz, I tried to guess on what a boost could be. Anything I could think of would be completely out of place here. So, instead of saying yes this time I made a bigger mistake. "What would I do with a boost?", I asked. The girl (and some of the people I thought were zoning out) snickered. Then, twisting her hair while she pointed at the big board behind her the girl answered in a you-must-be-a-complete-moron tone that text can't reproduce, "so you get a free boost out of these six, anything you want." After reading the first one I figured out what a "boost" was. Btw, she kept emphasizing the "ooo" sound in boost in a way that made me want to snap back ruuudely at her.Really though, how was I supposed to know the jargon? Look more closely at the menu you might say? You have to be kidding me, that place is a visual jambalaya of colors and shapes all around, I just wanted to get in and get out as quickly as possible. I choose the protein boost and the rest of my visit went without incident (except for the dog that ran over and jumped on my leg, but we'll get to San Franciscan's affinity for poorly behaved dogs on another day). It is a little weird when you get your drink though. Even if you see them perparing it and are standing right next to the counter, they insist on yelling your name and order at the top of their lungs. As someone who doesn't like attention drawn to what I'm doing or ordering, it's a little over the top. However, I must say I really enjoyed the Jamba Juice.
I have now been to Jamba Juice 4 times in the last week and am boderline addicted. I've even been heard at work saying foolish things like, "wanna go to jambaworld", which morphed into "let's go get a Jamba." Though I have not and likely will not forgive them for the annoying buzzword (which San Francisco also has way too many of) jambaism, and the way they oooo the word boost, my first impression was completely wrong and based from suppositions without knowing much of anything about the place. A good lesson for me to learn and note as I explore my new city. In retrospect though, it was much easier to build up a false persona for Jamba Juice and give me a reason to stay away than it was to go exploring it. Another alarming thing worth noting as I blunder around...
posted by Andy at 7:07 PM
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