Fresh Love Will Open in Roseway

Back in February, I wrote that The Red Gate, a popular cafe in the Roseway neighborhood, closed for good, and that something else was coming in its place. That something is Fresh Love, a cafe, juice bar, and produce marketplace.

I took some time to meet with Ben Cutler and Serina Leedy, who founded and will run Fresh Love, and was happy to hear about their plans. They placed portions of a couple of their menu’s salads in front of me and they were very good—fresh, crisp greens and other vegetables, and flavorful dressings (one was a Green Goddess, the other a carrot ginger).

Ben and Serina both worked at Andina for a few years, and they bring their experience from that time to Fresh Love. Ben also worked previously at Genesis Juice, formerly a worker cooperative juice company based in Eugene, so his expertise will be on the juice/smoothie side of things. Serina is developing the food menu. That said, they work great as a team—I know them from the various community projects they have organized in the area—so no doubt they will help each other out along the way.

Photo credit: Fresh Love

On their website, they state, “We need a local place for grabbing fresh produce for dinner, for taking the kids for a treat, or for meeting a friend for lunch. Our space will fill that gap for you, all while being focused on the community.” Community is a big deal to Ben and Serina, who, as I mentioned earlier, have been a part of a number of community efforts—a community garden, community beautification efforts (street painting parties, trash pickup along 82nd Ave), their local PTA, and the Rocky Butte Farmers Market. And now, Fresh Love.

As for Fresh Love’s menu, you’ll find five to six juices, each a combination of vegetables and fruit; also look for ginger shots combined with orange, lime, and turmeric (I had one, and it was exhilarating). Most of the juices are made with a cold press juicer; this kind of juicer keeps more of the nutrients in the juice compared to traditional/centrifugal juicers. There will be five to six smoothie options on the menu, as well.

They’ll also offer coffee and espresso drinks, sourcing their beans from nearby Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters. Along with espresso, you’ll find drip coffee, chai, hot tea, and iced tea (they might have some specials where they add juice to the tea).

As far as things to eat, look for two salads and two to three sandwiches: one vegetarian, one with turkey, and a kids’ turkey sandwich. Most of the pastries will be supplied by Bee’s Cakes, just up the road. However, they have a great chocolate chip cookie recipe (crispy on the edges with chewy interior) and will make chocolate chip cookies in-house.

Later on, look for mom-and-pop-style grocery items, fresh local produce, dairy and eggs, fresh breads, etc.

They’ll be using mostly organic and local ingredients in their juices, smoothies, and food. They’ll source some from an organic produce distributor, and some from local farms. Ben’s work with the Rocky Butte Farmers Market had helped him develop relationships with farmers, which will come in handy when looking for local produce to use.

As for seating, there will be both indoor and outdoor places in which to hang out—tables and bar seating inside, outdoor picnic tables on the east side. The outdoor seating will be nice to have on good weather days and for the needs of our still-COVID time. Live music (acoustic) will eventually happen, too.

Their projected opening is Wednesday, June 8. They plan to be open from 7:30am to 4:30pmm Wednesdays to Sundays; closed Monday and Tuesday.

Best of luck, Ben and Serina—I can’t wait to stop in when Fresh Love opens!

Fresh Love [projected opening June 2022]
7434 NE Fremont Street, Portland
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