Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Newell.
Hi Sonia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey to founding Granby St. Glow Juice Bar & More began long before the business itself. After spending more than 26 years in the intermodal logistics industry, I developed a passion for leadership, operations, and serving people. However, my perspective on health and wellness was shaped by personal experiences. I watched my father struggle with hypertension, diabetes, and eventually renal failure before his passing in 2008. Years later, my husband received a serious heart health warning that inspired our family to embrace a plant-based lifestyle and prioritize preventative wellness.
These experiences fueled my desire to create a business that would make healthy living more accessible and enjoyable within the community. What started as a vision for fresh juices and wellness products evolved into Granby St. Glow Juice Bar & More—a place where nutrition, culture, community, and connection come together.
Today, Granby St. Glow offers organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, wellness shots, herbal teas, healthy meals, and a welcoming event space that hosts everything from fitness classes and wellness workshops to live entertainment and community gatherings. Our mission is simple: to help people nourish their bodies, connect with others, and experience wellness in a way that feels approachable, fun, and sustainable.
The road has not always been easy, but every challenge has reinforced my commitment to serving the Norfolk community and building a business that promotes health, empowerment, and opportunity for others.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but every challenge has taught me valuable lessons and strengthened my commitment to the vision.
Like many small business owners, I’ve faced financial hurdles, unexpected obstacles, and the realities of building a business from the ground up. Transitioning from a successful 26-year career in logistics into entrepreneurship required a tremendous leap of faith. Learning new industries, navigating regulations, securing funding, and building brand awareness all came with a steep learning curve.
More recently, our business has been impacted by major road construction directly in front of our location on Granby Street. The project has significantly affected visibility, foot traffic, and customer access during what should have been one of our busiest seasons. While that has been incredibly challenging, it has also pushed us to become more creative, strengthen our community relationships, and find new ways to reach customers.
Despite the setbacks, I remain grateful for the support we’ve received from our customers, community partners, and local organizations. Every challenge has reinforced why I started this journey in the first place—to create a space that promotes wellness, connection, and opportunity. The road hasn’t always been easy, but it has been worthwhile, and we’re continuing to grow stronger because of it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Granby St. Glow Juice Bar and More. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Granby St. Glow Juice Bar & More is more than a juice bar—it’s a wellness, community, and cultural experience. Located in Norfolk’s NEON District, we specialize in organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, wellness shots, herbal teas, acai bowls, fresh meals, and plant-forward options designed to make healthy living approachable and enjoyable.
What sets us apart is that we don’t view wellness as a trend; we view it as a lifestyle. Our brand was built from personal experiences with family health challenges and a desire to create a space where people can nourish their bodies while also connecting with their community. We combine health-conscious offerings with experiences that bring people together, including fitness classes, educational workshops, networking events, live entertainment, cultural programming, and private events.
We are especially known for our fresh-made juices, wellness-focused menu, creative beverage offerings, and our ability to transform our space into a hub for community engagement. Whether someone visits for a cold-pressed juice, attends a yoga class, hosts a birthday celebration, or participates in a community event, they experience the same welcoming atmosphere.
What I am most proud of is the brand we’ve built around authenticity. We have created a space where wellness doesn’t feel intimidating and where people from all walks of life feel comfortable walking through the door. We are proud to be a Black woman-owned business that is helping redefine what wellness looks like in our community.
I want readers to know that Granby St. Glow is not just a place to grab a drink—it’s a place to gather, learn, celebrate, and invest in your well-being. Our mission is to help people glow from the inside out while creating meaningful connections that strengthen our community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://granbystglowbar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/granbystglowbar?igsh=MXJ4bDRjb25iYXpqZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BMMFsaGtZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
