Joel Andreasen walked into Flashbacks Cafe on Monday and ordered a 24 Carrot smoothie. His verdict: a full carrot flavor with a tinge of lemon and apple.
Flashbacks Cafe, a grab-'n'-go coffee shop, juice bar and bakery located at 211 W University Ave., opens its doors for business today. The cafe held a trial-run opening on Monday.
The cafe will offer coffee drinks, juices, smoothies, shakes, baked goods, salads, bagels, sandwiches and wraps. There will be something for everyone, said owner Steve Nichtberger, 52.
Flashbacks Cafe is a grab-'n'-go type of place, but it offers high-quality items, he said.
"Our goal is to fill your belly, feed your soul and free your mind," he said, "or at least let you use our free WiFi."
Starting Monday, the cafe will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday.
The cafe will create an artistic atmosphere, said Adam Whistler, 35, the cafe's general manager.
The walls, painted in bright purple, orange and yellow, offer an eclectic selection of mugs. A set of shelves houses board games, including the ‘90s Game, The Game of Life and "Friends" Trivial Pursuit.
The smoothies and juices are made with fruits and vegetables. Nothing else is added, Nichtberger said.
Nichtberger is also the owner of Flashbacks Recycled Fashions, a Gainesville consignment shop that has been around since 1986. He said he's worked in the restaurant business for 10 years.
He said the competition with other cafes downtown will help the city overall. It will give people more reason to go there, he said.
"We love what we do, but we're no different than other cafes," Nichtberger said.
Richard Williams, Kati Ricci and Joshua Degen eat at Flashbacks Cafe, a new grab-'n'-go coffee shop, juice bar and bakery located at 211 W University Ave., on Monday.
