Friday, December 6, 2024

Popular OC-based chain Jan’s Health Bar opening first location in Long Beach

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One of Orange County’s most successful and championed businesses, Jan’s Health Bar, has expanded into six locations across the county—and will cross the Orange Curtain for the first time when it opens near Loynes Drive and Pacific Coast Highway in East Long Beach.

Jan’s Health Bar has been around for over 50 years—but its update in 2010 is what took it to new heights

Jan’s Health Bar was originally birthed in the former Huntington Surf & Sport complex on Main Street in 1972—and come early 1980s, then toddler Poppy Holguin found herself loving when her family would venture into the sandwich and soup shop. Come high school, it was her first job from 1988 to 1991. And come 2010, she found herself the owner.

“Ultimately, during one of my visits in 2009, Jan expressed interest in selling,” Holguin said. “Jan wanted to sell the business to someone who respected the brand and believed in its mission of making healthy food accessible and approachable. At the time, I was working in marketing in Los Angeles—commuting from Huntington Beach—and saw this as an opportunity to make a change.”

Holguin loved what Jan had built: A space dedicated to hearty but healthy sandwiches and soups, with Jan even cheekily garnering a reputation as a surly, salty figure that had little patience if you didn’t know what you wanted. Regulars became accustomed to this, ordering the spaces famed Peanut Butter Banana Date smoothie, avocado sandwich, or the most popular offering, Jan’s locally famous tuna salad sandwich. So astounding was the quality of her product that her character became seamless with her offerings—and Holguin saw she cold take that into the future.

“I truly believed—and still do—in the brand and product and respected what Jan had created over the last 38 years,” Holguin said. “In addition, the idea of it all coming full circle held a special place for me. I saw that there was an opportunity to enhance and expand on what was created.”

What to expect from Jan’s Health Bar in Long Beach

While spaces like Sweetgreen and Tender Greens are ubiquitous throughout Los Angeles and Orange County, Long Beach does severely lack in terms of accessible, health-focused food spaces—which is why Jan’s Health Bar is such a warm welcome.

Taking over the former Pacific Coast Style space at 6232 E. Pacific Coast Hwy. just north of Marina Pacifica, Jan’s Health Bar is known for its classics—like the aforementioned tuna salad and the shop’s OG Surf Shop Special with half a sandwich and soup—as well as some more contemporary things.

There’s “Amaze Bowls” that are sweet and protein bowls that are savory. There are a ton of sandwiches and wraps, from turkey with kale and cranberry to chicken with pistachios and feta. And plenty of soups and salads to tack on if you’re especially hungry.

Jan’s Health Bar is expected to opening in the coming months at 6232 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Brian Addison
Brian Addisonhttp://www.longbeachize.com
Brian Addison has been a writer, editor, and photographer for more than 15 years, covering everything from food and culture to transportation and housing. In 2015, he was named Journalist of the Year by the Los Angeles Press Club and has since garnered 30 nominations and three additional wins. In 2019, he was awarded the Food/Culture Critic of the Year across any platform at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. He has since been nominated in that category every year, joining fellow food writers from the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Eater, the Orange County Register, and more.

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