Got juice?: Mission District favorite Sidewalk Juice puts down roots in San Mateo

“I really like the weather here and we love the neighborhood. The community reminds me of the Mission District,” said Nazzal.

Nazzal may have recognized similarities between downtown San Mateo and the Mission District in San Francisco because of the energy, diversity and scattering of historic buildings. Employee Geraldo Cano noticed that the clientele in San Mateo is more family oriented.

“People here just seem a lot nicer,” said Cano.

Juiced with ambition and the desire to provide a nurturing and easy way to eat fruit and vegetables, San Mateo is the third location since Nazzal first launched Sidewalk Juice in 2006.

Attributing his success to his father, Nazzal said he was engrossed with fruit and vegetables because he grew up around it. Nazzal’s father owns Valencia Whole Foods, a produce market in San Francisco’s Mission District for more than 21 years.

There was a time when big food manufacturers dominated the media and marketed so heavily that eating fresh and whole foods did not resonate with people but now they are realizing how important healthy food is, said Nazzal.

Nazzal and his team have created more than 100 items for the menu, a process he said is ongoing. Options include a variety of smoothies, juices, kombucha juice, wheatgrass shots, ginger shots and healthy snacks.

He will soon be adding acai bowl to the menu which includes 100 percent organic acai puree, granola, shredded coconut, bananas, blueberries and strawberries.

The bright multi-colored sign and retro font is inviting and fun and there is a mural of a tropical beach painted by San Francisco artist Thomasina DeMaioon encompassing the wall. The ambiance of the store is soulful and energetic.

“This was a smart idea and I think it’s a good addition, it brings something different to downtown San Mateo,” said Julia Forte, manager of Capezio Dance Shop.

Must Tries:

• Kale Colada Smoothie: Fresh organic kale, coconut juice, pineapple, coconut shreds, pineapple sherbet and ice. A very non-intimidating way to drink kale — sweet but not overpowering, tropical, cold and refreshing.

• Jake Shields Juice: Four times the kale, pineapple, ginger, lemon and celery. Tart, tangy, slightly sweet but packs some heat from the ginger which is offset with celery undertones.

• Green Energy: Kale, spinach, apple, lemon, ginger, parsley, celery and cucumber. Slightly sweet, tarty and tangy with modest heat from the ginger. The parsley, celery and cucumber flavor dominates.

Sidewalk Juice is located at 212 E. Third Ave., San Mateo, CA 94401. For more information go to www.sidewalk-juice.com.