Ripe Life Juice Co. returns to business in downtown Rockford after 2 years away

October 10, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In Restaurants, Featured, Eat & Drink, News, 815 News, Rockford, Rock River Current, Business, Top Stories

Jamar Luster is congratulated by Alderman Tamir Bell, left, and state Rep. Maurice West after cutting the ribbon on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, on Ripe Life Juice Co. at 333 E. State St. in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — After a two-year effort to reopen its doors, Ripe Life Juice Co. is back in business serving up fresh smoothies, cold-pressed juices and healthy açaí bowls in downtown.

Owner Jamar Luster cut the ribbon on the juice and smoothie bar at 333 E. State St. on Friday in a ceremony with Alderman Tamir Bell, state Rep. Maurice West and members of GoRockford. It was the culmination of an exhaustive effort for Luster that started in August 2023, when he closed his original location inside the Stewart Square building.

“I’m ready to get back to serving my people,” Luster said. “I don’t feel like we’ve even missed a beat, even after two years.”

The juice and smoothie bar will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Saturday before it begins its regular 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours six days per week on Monday. Luster plans to eventually expand to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Ripe Life features Luster’s smoothie creations such as Purple Power, which is made with mixed berries, banana, elderberry, chia seeds and honey. There’s no added sugar in any of the drinks. There’s also the popular Gorilla Food with spinach, banana, cacao nibs, honey and almond milk. Or you can get the Golden Mylk with turmeric, maca, goji berry, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, coconut milk and honey.

There are seven smoothie options and three varieties of açaí bowls. There will also be seven freshly pressed juice options added soon.

“The mission is still the same. The goal is still the same,” Luster said. “I created Ripe Life to reintroduce urban communities to the benefits of proper nutrition, and our plan is to do that through education and exposure to healthier options.”

Bell said he was glad to see a new health-conscious business opening in downtown. Bell represents the 13th Ward, where Ripe Life was originally located. It has now moved across the river into the 2nd Ward. It’s a few storefronts east of the old Capri Restaurant.

“I’ve been able to follow Jamar since he had Ripe Life 1.0, and now today he’s reopening his doors to expand the healthy food options in the downtown area,” Bell said. “I’m excited to see people patronize his business again like they once did.”

A variety of smoothies sit on the counter Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, at Ripe Life Juice Co. in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Ripe Life originally opened in September 2021 at 308 W. State St., filling a space that was previously Bella Luna Bakery and is now home to Poke Green Lite inside Stewart Square.

He closed with plans to move into the former Rockford Roasting Co. at 206 N. Main St. in downtown, but that fell through. The space is now VPW Studios.

Ripe Life is now located in a building owned by a limited liability company tied to NBA star Fred VanVleet and his family. The space was previously home to to Indigo Beauty Boutique, which is now at 111 N. Alpine Road.

But Luster’s remodel faced complications and increased costs, so he took on another job to earn enough money to complete the renovations. Now, he’s working as a quality engineer at Honeywell in Freeport while running the smoothie bar.

“Two years is a long time. I spent a lot of money. I made a lot of sacrifices. I went through a ton of struggles, and then I built all this myself,” he said. “I’m just ready.”