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March 18 - March 24, 2022
Ozone Park business owner recognized
for his contributions to the community
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
When Benjamin Robinson
moved from Brooklyn to
Ozone Park, he had a vision
to open a gym and a juice bar.
After walking the neighborhood
and seeing empty storefronts
and no local juice bars,
Robinson decided to open his
own spot in October 2018.
Juice 101, located at 97-16
101 Ave., provides customers
with fresh all-natural juices
and smoothies that are made
from natural vegetables and
fruits that are shown in a
glass showcase and prepared
in front of customers.
One of their top-selling
smoothies is a peanut punch
protein drink that includes
almond milk, banana, peanut
butter, protein powder, honey
and nutmeg. Their second
most popular smoothie, ‘In my
feelings,’ is made with strawberries,
mango and peaches.
“People like the name and
they’ll always remember that
name before they remember
anything else,” said Robinson,
who is a certified personal
trainer that promotes
health, wellness and fitness.
While he runs his business,
Robinson also finds
time to give back to the community.
He was awarded for
his philanthropic services
during a PPE distribution
giveaway event at Juice 101
on Thursday, Feb. 24, with
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar
and Senator Joseph
Addabbo.
Another resident, Rahana
Rampershad, who works on
projects that help victims of
domestic violence and has copartnered
with Robinson to
help promote wellness in the
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar presents Benjamin Robinson, owner of Juice Bar 101, with a
proclamation for his contributions to the community. Photo courtesy of Rajkumar’s offi ce
community, was also presented
with several certificates.
During the height of the
pandemic, Juice 101 stayed
open and Robinson distributed
free wellness shots, such
as turmeric, cayenne, lemon
and ginger, to help boost the
immune system of community
members.
After that giveaway, Robinson
says, it created more recognition
for his business and
let people know that they’re
there to serve the community.
Other philanthropic
events that Robinson has
brought to the community
include an annual backpack
and PPE distribution event,
a Thanksgiving food drive,
breast cancer awareness celebration,
an annual coat drive
and Christmas toy drive,
and a food pantry distribution
that they host every Friday
for Our Neighbor Civics
Association.
Robinson also employs
neighborhood youths and
provides internships for them
to learn how to make and promote
healthy lifestyles in
young people.
“Before this, I was always
giving back. I’m not doing it
for recognition, and it makes
me feel good to know that I’m
able to help people,” Robinson
said. “When I came here, I
said we are in the community
and I have to give back. When
I sit down and think about it,
it’s a lot and I don’t realize it
because I’m always in the middle
of it doing something.”
As a member of the state
Assembly’s Small Business
Committee, Rajkumar congratulated
Robinson for performing
a great service by
bringing healthy food options
to south Queens.
“From green juices to ginger
shots to the açai bowl,
Juice 101 inspires our community
to live better and
healthier. Mr. Robinson is
an exceptional entrepreneur
with a long track record of
serving our community,
from distributing food to the
hungry to supplying toys to
children,” Rajkumar said. “I
was proud to honor Robinson,
an exemplary small business
owner who serves our
community so well.”
Community advocate
Sherry Algredo also praised
Robinson and Rampershad
for their accomplishments.
“I was very happy to be
part of organizing to show
support for Juice 101, who is
an integral part of our small
and thriving business community,”
Algredo said. “We
look forward to supporting
more of our small businesses
and seeing them become and
stay successful.”
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–
4526.
Vol. 10, No. 11 40 total pages
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