Since January 2016, Brooklyn Blend has been a staple Black-owned juice bar and health food restaurant in the Brooklyn community, known for providing healthy smoothies, shakes, nutritious food, and fresh juices from our juice bar. We are passionate about inspiring and encouraging a wellness-focused lifestyle, especially within communities that are underserved and overlooked. What began as a way to assist our parents throughout their retirement, evolved into a desire to positively impact our culture for generations to come.
What inspired the creation of BKLYN Blend?
Keishon Warren: BKLYN Blend is built on the motto, “Spread[ing] Love, It’s the Brooklyn Way!” We founded this business to support our hardworking parents as they approached retirement. Fueled by the love of our community, our mission evolved to focus on serving nutritious meals with kindness. We recognize the importance of offering diverse, healthy choices, and we intentionally designed our brand to reflect this commitment.
What are you looking forward to the most when T6 opens its doors?
Keishon Warren: I am most looking forward to the moment when travelers step into Terminal 6 and experience the heart of Brooklyn through our food, our culture, and our hospitality. Opening at T6 represents more than expansion, it is an opportunity to share the essence of our community and our mission. I’m excited to see guests from around the world discover new flavors, enjoy healthier options, connect with our story, and feel the warmth and kindness that define Bklyn Blend. Just as we strive to uplift our local communities, I look forward to creating meaningful job opportunities, building partnerships with local organizations, and expanding our mission of serving nutritious meals with kindness to an international audience.
What unique flavors and experiences can travelers expect when they visit BKLYN Blend at T6?
Keishon Warren: Our BKLYN Blend menu is infused with a vibrant Caribbean flair. We proudly feature unique ingredients, such as our signature house-made chipotle and tamarind sauce, to add a delightful kick to our drinks and food. From an array of refreshing smoothies, shakes, and juices to our range of delicious and inventive vegan patties (Savory Lentils or Hearty Pumpkin, anyone?!), every sip is a taste of paradise, and every bite is bursting with flavors.
In what ways has your Brooklyn upbringing influenced the concept and offerings at BKLYN Blend?
Keishon Warren: We were intentional about incorporating into our brand the iconic essence of Brooklyn, where unique communities flow into one another. Each item on the BKLYN Blend menu, from the Park Slope Salmon Sandwich to the Fulton Street Shake, pays homage to the streets, landmarks, and neighborhoods of this remarkable borough. We personally designed and built all our locations using reclaimed wood and materials sourced from various parts of Brooklyn, including materials from the Coney Island Boardwalk, old water tanks, and demolished buildings in our neighborhood.
How has your experience with the Port Authority’s Institute of Concessions (IOC) influenced your path to becoming a concessionaire at T6?
Keishon Warren: My experience with the IOC program has been transformative and has truly opened doors for me to realize and pursue my dreams. The connections I’ve made within the airport community and the resources available through the program would not have been easily accessible otherwise.
BKLYN Blend
194 Tompkins Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11206
Phone: (718) 544 1850
www.bklynblend.com
