Published on June 21st, 2022 | by Jameelah "Just Jay" Wilkerson

Partners Nikeea and Kasaka Bey Open the Carbon Juice Lounge in Harlem

Are you originally from Harlem NY, and what was it like growing up there?

Partners Nikeea Bey and Kasaka Bey of “Carbon Juice Lounge” are both natives of Harlem. Kashaka was born in Saint Lukes women’s Hospital & Nikeea was born in Harlem Hospital. Both have the same sentiment about growing up in Harlem as being fun. Through our personal lenses, Harlem was a close-knit community in its own right. At the bare minimum, most of us at least knew of each other or share the same friend.

Trials and tribulations of starting the store?

Harlem as children was full of a culture that was unique. We are grateful to have experienced it. It is very sentimental to both of us. Growing up in the 80s & 90s it was a place where we witnessed our people practice cultural group economics.

Best and worst parts of being a brand new business owner?

Although we had an online business. Having a brick & mortar is very challenging. We had to create a blueprint system and see it through. The first is always nerve-wracking. No matter how much you study and prepare for it. It is nowhere close in preparation to actually experiencing it. The process was tedious. From scouting and visiting locations, lease proposals, finding a good lawyer, negotiating a lease, losing a potential space, to start all over and find another space. Dealing with the city rules & regulations especially in New York City, getting a layout from an architect, hiring contractors for a build-out, and creating a menu. Products to sell, employees, accounting training, dealing with property, sales, and corporations tax. The list goes on and on. It was all challenging. Sometimes we felt like bailing out. Looking back we are happy we did not.

We saw it through and now we’re masters at it. The best part of being business owners is seeing your vision manifest and the potential for longevity. Learning how to depend on yourself and or your partner by creating your own check with no limitations of success that is infinite.

What made you want to open a juice lounge?

The idea that people becoming more health-conscious allowed us to provide insight on how to pursue a healthy lifestyle within our community. If we were willing to put in ours for another company. We should be willing to put in twice the time for our business. Most people have had a thought about working for themselves once in their lifetime. We took that thought and made it a reality. The best has yet to come.

What are your goals and are you planning on franchising?

Our goals are to share more insight on the best ways to be healthy and teach our community, especially the youth about how to achieve optimal health. Making it a lifestyle. We are definitely planning to franchise and we plan to bring our Harlem style of Alchemy juicing to the world.

Who would you like to partner with in your neighborhood?

We would love to partner with holistic practitioners, certified herbals and our celebrity peers.

What is the covid killer shot?

All smiles as we introduce one of our top sellers the “Covid Killa shot” it is an all-natural cold immunity shot made with love. Its ingredients have amino acids that help boost the immune system and respiratory systems. There is no other like it.

Stop at one of your Carbon juice stores and get yourself one.

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