Smooth operator
Juicy new smoothie shop from local coffee faves whirls into Pearl food hall
A fresh new concept is squeezing into the Pearl’s Bottling Department food hall. Husband-and-wife duo Robby and Neesha Grubbs, the team behind Local Coffee Founders, will open new smoothie shop Kineapple in late September.
The spot will replace Bud’s Southern Rotisserie, according to a release. The casual restaurant from Pieter and Susan Sypesteyn, one of the food hall’s original vendors, shuttered in April after an almost four-year run. Founding eateries Tenko Ramen and Fletcher’s Hamburgers will remain open, along with newcomers Mi Roti and Chilaquil.
Developed with the idea of making healthy eating accessible, Kineapple’s smoothie menu will be fully customizable with an array of modifiers such as plant-based protein, whey isolate, creatine, turmeric, collagen, and more. In addition to the fruity treats, the outlet will offer craft coffee and snacks like a crunchy kale salad, a free-range chicken salad sandwich, golden overnight oats, a house protein bar, and other wellness-minded dishes.
“Kineapple is something that we’re looking forward to bringing to Pearl,” says Robby Grubbs via a release. “We wanted to be able to bring high-quality, healthy ingredients to the table without sacrificing taste, and that’s what we’ve done here.”
The name is a nod to the couple’s youngest son, who struggled to say “pineapple” as a child. The couple already wanted to incorporate the tropical fruit in the branding, so the mispronunciation added a personal touch.
Kineapple is the first new venture since Local Coffee completed its rebranding to Merit Coffee in March 2020. As part of that transition, the Grubbses sold their stake in the emerging chain but kept the Pearl shop — adding “Founders” to the name to signify it was the original location.
Once open, Kineapple hours will be 11 am-8 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am-8 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The exact opening day will be announced in the upcoming weeks.