Cousins bring healthy juices and products to N.J.’s urban communities

As children, cousins Avry and Chris Griffin struggled, watching their loved ones battle serious health issues like liver cancer, diabetes, and brain cancer.

So, they began to look for ways to heal them.

By 2018, Chris had a degree in biology from Wake Forest University in North Carolina and was taking graduate-level courses in nutritional science. And Avry was majoring in communications at Rutgers-New Brunswick.

The following year, the pair combined their backgrounds and began offering free organic meals and raw juices and sharing their knowledge on nutrition in underserved communities in Asbury Park and Long Branch. Soon after, they envisioned starting Griffy’s Organics — a brand that would provide access to healthy juices and wellness products and education on their benefits.

That year, they pitched their business model during a Shark Tank-type competition in Long Branch and later gained access to grants for their start-up. They opened their first store in Long Branch in 2021 at 144 Brighton Ave.

“My uncle fought a tough battle with cancer, and a close childhood friend of ours went through brain cancer,” said Avry, 29, of Long Branch. “Seeing people we love struggle with their health was a wake-up call. It made us realize how critical nutrition is – not just for healing but for living fully.”

The company serves about 100 people a day – offering raw juice, sea moss, adaptogen lattes, and juices that help lower blood sugar levels and decrease inflammation in the body. With locations in Long Branch, Asbury Park, and Red Bank, Griffy’s goal is to make high-quality nutrition universally accessible to everyone – something the cousins say is needed, especially in communities of color.

In 2022, heart disease was the leading cause of death among Black people in the United States, followed by cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We have seen that more and more minorities [are] coming to us, trying to find a natural way to heal their bodies,” said Chris, 34, of Freehold Township. “People are desperately seeking the truth in their health and wellness journey. And that’s where we come in.”

Customers rave about the store, some saying it changed their lives.

“The products are unique here,” said Collin D’Anna, 38, of Ocean Township. “You won’t find all the processed materials as you would in a supermarket. I can’t begin to tell you how it has positively affected my health journey as I battled a lot of internal health issues.”

Asbury Park City Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton says the business is vital to urban communities.

“Businesses like Griffy’s are so important because to a community that has a high incidence of diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses, it demonstrates and promotes healthier ways of eating and living,” she said.

Bernadette Odoms, 49, of Neptune Township, said the franchise is a game changer.

“It’s amazing that we have a Black-owned health and wellness store in Monmouth County,” she said. “My hope is that Chris and Avry continue to inspire young Black and brown entrepreneurs to strive to better their community.”

Chris agreed, saying business success should go hand-in-hand with community involvement.

“One of the things I’m most excited about is our upcoming partnership with the Prosper Foundation,” he stated.

The collaboration will see Griffy’s Organics release hoodies with all proceeds benefiting the New Jersey-based Prosper Foundation, a mental health organization that provides free services to youth – anticipated to launch in February.

Beyond that, Griffy’s regularly hosts free nutrition consultations, supports local events, and collaborates with schools, gyms, and nonprofits to build deeper community connections.

“It’s about being an active part of the community, not just a business in it,” Chris said.