Chris Goode of Ruby Jean’s Juicery announced on Facebook Live that he will be headed to San Francisco with 99 other entrepreneurs from the U.S. and Canada to trade ideas at Yelp's second Coast -to-Coast event. His announcement and testimony of why he started his business already has 11 thousand views.
Named after his grandmother, Goode says he was inspired to open Ruby Jean’s to spread the benefits of healthy eating to people that might not know like his beloved late grandmother.
“She didn’t know about this stuff…but I know the power of it. I believe in the healing effects of food and what we decide to eat and drink on a daily basis,” said Goode.
From his cheerfully colorful midtown location, he talked about the support from customers he has gotten in the store and online.
"Kansas City has supported me in so many ways. It’s crazy. It’s humbling. There is something special about the diverse culture we're building around health in Kansas City,” he told 41 Action News. “I look forward to spreading our genuine love for making people healthier and happier!”
Adam Schaumburg from Yelp KC said Yelp used community manager recommendations to choose the 100 top-rated businesses in cities in the US and Canada for Coast-to-Coast.
Last year, Cory Stipp from Quay coffee in River Market took the trip for the first Coast-to-Coast.
“It was a great experience being able to meet with other small business owners,” he said. “When we opened the shop back in 2012 we would have never thought it would become what it has.”
Goode says he can't wait.
"This recognition puts us on the national map and it is important to keep improving what we do daily to keep us here," Goode said.
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Lindsay Shively can be reached at lindsay.shively@kshb.com.
