Columbine CC’s new grab-and-go bar features smoothies, juices and coffees, as well as grab-and-go meals.
There are more than a few things to consider when determining what beverages to serve from a club or resort snack bar.
On the one hand, speed and convenience are paramount. Golfers, swimmers and fitness fanatics are eager to get back to their activities or to their next appointment. Most of the time, they don’t want to park in the main dining room or at the bar just for a smoothie or juice.
On the other, quality, originality and flavor are important to consider. These beverages represent your club’s culinary program. They shouldn’t be treated as an afterthought.
Balancing both is challenging. But when successfully achieved, the results can transform how a club satisfies its members’ thirsts.
Take, for example, Columbine Country Club (Columbine Valley, Colo.), which opened its new clubhouse in 2017. While the new space offers members plenty of dining options, it also plays host to a café concept that features smoothies, juices, and coffees, alongside a limited menu of grab-and-go breakfast and lunch items.
Dubbed The Turn, this outlet is located just outside the club’s fitness center and within a short distance of the course. It attracts members from all parts of the property.
“We have a lot of health-focused members who want smoothies that are quick, healthy, high-protein, low-sugar and freshly made,” says Executive Chef Jeff Kenser. “We do a lot of smoothie sales at The Turn especially in the early morning, because we can deliver on all of these requests—and more.”
The Turn’s “Fresh Start” menu features three smoothies on a digital menu board that hangs behind the counter. The “Health Coach Seasonal Smoothie” features strawberry, pineapple, mint, ginger, almond milk and yogurt. The “Grapefruit Green Smoothie” features banana, spinach, ginger, apple and orange juice. And the “Protein Punch Smoothie” features banana, chocolate protein powder, peanut butter, almond milk, cinnamon and dark cherry.
The menu changes seasonally, but customizable smoothies with powdered mix-ins or substitutions are always available, too. On average, The Turn brings in just a little over $100,000 annually. (Columbine CC does $3.5 million in annual F&B.)
“A lot of our members work out very early in the morning—we open at 5:30 a.m.,” says Kenser. “Before, they would go to Starbucks after their workout, but then complain about the amount of sugar or the quality of the smoothie. They don’t do that anymore. Instead, they stop at The Turn, get their smoothie and go on with their day.”