Founded in Malibu by entrepreneur Khalil Rafati, SunLife Organics has been providing an alternative take on the modern juice bar for eleven years, having grown to operate more than 10 locations in California, Texas, and Florida—and now, the chain is on track to open its first Nevada location this fall at UnCommons, the $400 million, 40-acre mixed-use community from Matter Real Estate Group.
The cult-favorite brand’s inclusion in UnCommons shows a rounded-out, health-centric side to the development’s food and drink lineup. Landing the brand is a testament to the development’s community focus. It’s not, after all, the first time the idea of a move to Greater Las Vegas has come up.
“We’ve been approached at least ten times by different landlords, mostly on the Strip,” Rafati told What Now Las Vegas in a phone conversation on Thursday.
He intimated that some locations didn’t have a room for an all-encompassing health and wellness brand.
“There was a lot of talk of hangover cures,” Rafati said, with a friendly laugh. The health entrepreneur is proudly 18 years sober, a journey that has taken him all over the world, to places like Japan, Indonesia, Central America, India and elsewhere, in pursuit of healthy ingredients and a vision for a safe, community-centered atmosphere where young people can grow and thrive. Being a hangover cure wasn’t what the brand was interested in.
“We’re called a juice bar or a smoothie shop,” Rafati said, “but we’re really a lighthouse in the storm for people who are truly seeking the highest level of health and wellness.”
SunLife Organics uses only high quality organic ingredients. Drinks, which include the Wolverine (banana, raw almond butter, Medjool dates, maca, bee pollen, raw cacao nibs, raw coconut butter, royal jelly, and almond milk), are served alongside fruit and protein bowls like the Bliss Bowl (blended açaí, banana, blueberries, cashew butter, and hemp milk topped with superfood trail mix and bananas almond butter, coconut shreds, and honey) and the Dragon Bowl (blended dragon fruit, raspberry, mango, and hemp milk topped with granola, strawberry, blueberry, and coconut shreds).
Approached early on by Matter Real Estate for UnCommons, the health entrepreneur admits to having had little interest—until he met Group Partner Jim Stuart and learned about the UnCommons project.
“I fell in love with the guy within ten minutes. I’ve never met a developer more interested in genuinely serving the community, genuinely creating an oasis.”
“We have long been familiar with SunLife Organics and their impact in every community they serve,” Jim Stuart said in a press release. “Their culture and commitment to a healthy, balanced lifestyle are the perfect fit for UnCommons and we look forward to welcoming them this summer.”
Photo: Official
