Walking into Bloom Nutrition felt like I had just entered a beach town getaway, compared to the mountains in Bloomsburg. Next to the counter, the wall is lined with four colorful whiteboards detailing different drinks and acai bowls they offer.
Blenders hummed in the background, and owner Emily Clayton was preparing a protein smoothie. Many fast food restaurants and takeout places tend to dominate the Bloomsburg area. Clayton wanted to bring something new to the town.
“I used to work at a place like this in New York City, there is nothing like this around here so I thought why not bring New York to Bloomsburg,” she exclaimed.
Bloom Nutrition offers a variety of “loaded teas,” protein shakes, and acai bowls, something you would have to drive at least 40 minutes to get if it wasnt here.
“One of the biggest differences between the store in NYC and here is that we sell a lot of loaded teas where they sell a lot of protein shakes,” Clayton stated. The loaded teas consist of 200mg of caffeine, zero added sugars, natural ingredients, and daily vitamins.
“They are pretty much just healthy energry drinks, you don’t get all those fake added sugars and they have aloe in them which helps with digestion.”
While everything is powder-based products from Herbalife Nutrition, a detail Clayton admits “sounds gross” at first, it’s part of what allows the shop to keep things quick, consistent, and low-calorie. Most shakes max out around 250 calories, something that appeals to both health-conscious locals and busy students looking for a better alternative between classes.
And while you might expect college students to make up the bulk of the customer base, that hasn’t exactly been the case.
“Probably 80% locals, 20% college,” Clayton said. “I was surprised.”
For many longtime residents, Bloom Nutrition fills a gap that’s been there for years. In a town where quick food usually means fried or processed, the shop offers something different.
That support shows up in small, personal ways. Clayton recalls her very first customer, who still comes in every Saturday, and another regular who orders four banana pudding parfaits every weekend without fail.
“She’ll message me like, ‘You have my regular?’ And I’m like, ‘Girl, I got you,’” Clayton laughed.
Those relationships have become the most rewarding part of the job, especially after a slow and uncertain start. Opening in December meant navigating one of the toughest months for a new business, with days where Clayton wasn’t sure it would work out.
“Having the college here is huge, and I have been able to get my name out there pretty quickly,” she stated.
Just five months in, Bloom Nutrition is already hitting milestones comparable to the New York shop she once worked at, something that took them nearly a year to reach.
Looking ahead, Clayton hopes to expand beyond the storefront. Ideas like pop-up events, community fairs, and new menu items like protein waffles and upgraded açaí bowls.
After spending time inside Bloom Nutrition, it’s clear it’s more than just another place to grab a drink. It’s a shift from what Bloomsburg is used to, and maybe a sign of where it’s going. And honestly, it’s kind of refreshing.
For college students especially, where meals are often rushed between classes or picked up late at night, having a quick, healthier option matters more than it seems. Bloom Nutrition isn’t just another stop in town, it’s an alternative to the routine, and one that students are starting to work into their everyday lives.
