Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of The Squeeze co-owner Vanessa Manchego.
A pair of young entrepreneurs are combining their skills from the restaurant industry and aspects of their home countries to open a new fresh-food-and-juice bar called The Squeeze at the Pensacola Beach Marina.
The Squeeze will open in early June inside the former home of the Cumaru Craft & Cocktail Bar, providing healthy food options and refreshing drinks for passersby along with a view of Little Sabine Bay. They plan to be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day of the week during this season.
Co-owners Kyra Ash, 23, and Vanessa Manchego, 24, have worked in the restaurant industry since turning 18. They decided to apply their skills toward their own dreams and work towards opening The Squeeze about a year ago, seeking the advice of other local business owners who told them about the vacant spot at the marina.
“There was nothing that sold really fresh smoothies or agua frescas after a long day at the beach, or for the long day at the beach,” Ash said. “(Families) don’t have anything to bring out with them to keep them refreshed and hydrated, so we wanted to provide that for families on the beach.”
Ash and Manchego have been setting up The Squeeze themselves and plan to open at the beginning of June. Their opening menu will offer a variety of fresh squeezed juices, pita-pocket wraps and sandwiches available among other choices, but they’re excited to begin serving their smoothies most of all.
“(Smoothies) are what we’re going to be known for,” Ash said.
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Ash is studying at Pensacola State College but spent half of her life in England, where her mother’s originally from, before spending the other half here in Pensacola. Her experience with England’s mass-produced fresh food and its health benefits for residents was a big inspiration in The Squeeze’s business plan.
“Shelf life for their food isn’t a week or two weeks. It’s a couple of days, so they don’t have as many preservatives in their food,” she said. “So I took the idea from England … we want to provide that because no place around here does that.”
Manchego originally hails from Venezuela, where fresh fruits and foods are sold often, and attended culinary school at Zi Teresa Centro de Arte culinarios. She came to the U.S. six years ago and met Ash two years later in the restaurant industry.
The pair have been discussing how to use their pool of culinary knowledge since.
“We were always talking about wanting to do something else for our future,” Manchego said.
Ash and Manchego are focused on creating a friendly, lively environment for both customers and employees with a no-drama policy, which they think will play an important role in developing their space.
Even prior to opening, the most rewarding part of the process for the pair of owners has been seeing their year-long dream and effort finally turning into reality.
Where will The Squeeze be?
The Squeeze will be operating out of an 1,800-square-foot space on the first level of the Pensacola Beach Marina with plenty of seating. If you’re heading onto the beach or on a boat trip, they’ll be selling Styrofoam cooler boxes to hold your order.
Customers will be able to walk up to the venue or drive up to get their orders.
Ash and Manchego want to make full use of The Squeeze’s outdoor space.
“We can bring some band music, games or yoga and salsa classes,” Manchego said. “Maybe even painting classes or painting days, so people can enjoy fresh food and their time here.”
They also plan to offer a permanent discount for employees of Pensacola Beach businesses and cruise workers.
“We’re going to (give) little business cards so you can write your name on it, have your manager or supervisor write their name and then we’re going to have different punches so we can see how often you guys come and then validate if you guys are working,” Ash said.
First responders and medical personnel will also receive discounts.
As part of their agreement with the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) The Squeeze can’t operate for 179 continuous days in a calendar year, so they’ll shut down in the offseason each year.
They plan to operate seasonally, from March to October, each year if they renew their lease at the space. They also hope to open more locations across the beach in the future.
What will be on The Squeeze’s menu?
The Squeeze will serve an assortment of healthy food and drinks.
“We’re trying to do fresh food that’s grab-and-go so we’re not going to be preparing it in the moment, we’re going to do it each morning,” Ash said.
They’re also aiming to provide an important source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fiber to the community through their products, which will be handmade.
The Squeeze will have multiple food options for customers to choose from, varying from pita-pocket wraps to pasta salads and sandwiches. Their drink menu will have three different categories of handmade drinks to choose from: smoothies, frescas and fresh-pressed juices.
Fresh coconut water and water bottles will also be sold at The Squeeze.
Ash and Manchego plan to grow their menu further in the future. Customers can keep up with The Squeeze and get updates using their Instagram and Facebook pages.
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