By Annika Nelson, Community News Service
Editor’s note: This story is via Community News Service in partnership with Vermont State University Castleton.
A steady stream of customers flowed into 802 Nutrition on a recent Saturday morning seeking to fill their caffeine fix in a healthier way.
They were met by owners Kristen Johnson and Stacey Ludden, who say although the menu can be overwhelming, they love taking time to get customers exactly what they want.
“If you come in here, we’re gonna find something that you’ll like,” said Ludden in a recent interview.
On Feb.15, Ludden and Johnson celebrated the 5th anniversary of 802 Nutrition on Woodstock Avenue.
The two owners met playing softball and have been friends for around 30 years. Before 802 Nutrition, they owned a commercial and construction cleaning business for 12 years.
In 2020, Ludden had some friends that were doing something similar, and she had been working from home in the wellness industry, but she said it just seemed like the time was right. “Rutland was ready for a business like this. Maybe not five weeks before Covid, but you know,” Ludden said with a laugh.
They both agreed that making it to the five-year anniversary is about the community.
“We have customers that still come in every day, that came in from the beginning, who have supported us from the beginning,” Ludden said
On the big day, 802 was bustling, and in the five hours they were open, they served 384 people.
“We do that some days on a regular day, a nine-hour day, and we did it in five hours. We had all hands on deck, it was fun,” Johnson said.
The celebration was a family affair, they said. People who usually stop in on their way to work brought gifts, their kids, and spouses.
802 serves all different kinds of drinks to all different kinds of people. There are healthy protein shakes that constitute a meal and have 25 grams of protein, low sugar, low fat, and can be spruced up with whipped cream or toppings.
They also make a variety of lighter “teas” that offer energy and healthy benefits, they say.
They see teachers in the morning on their way to school, healthcare workers, first responders and sports teams – which they often name special drinks of the day after.
“There’s an ambulance backed in here sometimes two or three times a day to get their drinks in between their work,” Ludden said smiling. “We really want to get to know people, we don’t want it to be like a drive thru experience.”
Whether it’s energy, hydration, or a meal that you’re looking for, 802 has something to serve.
“There’s over 500 tea recipes, and we can make you any shake flavor that you want, from brownie batter, to birthday cake, to cinnamon roll, to mint Oreo, to Heath Bar blast,” Ludden said.
The shop opened five weeks almost to the day before everything really shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, people reached out looking to “pay it forward” and purchase drinks at 802 Nutrition for people like teachers and first responders.
Ludden and Johnson ended up donating all the money back totaling over $5,000.
A familiar face in 802 Nutrition is Ronnie Oakman, the founding member of a group known as the “Breakfast Club.” Oakman is a family guy from Proctor whose kids are a little younger than Johnson, also a Proctor native.
“When we opened, he knew my name was connected to it, and he came in, and he was just here,” Johnson said.
Oakman and a few other guys that Johnson and Ludden have known forever come in every morning and keep them updated on the daily gossip and have a drink.
You can often find Oakman doing dishes, shoveling snow, carrying drinks out to the car, all without being asked.
“If we don’t see him by 9 a.m., we call… because we’re so used to seeing him you know,” Ludden said. “We have something called club credits, and Oakman will put a couple hundred dollars on his club credit, and if you come in here and you’re a teacher and it’s obvious, he’ll look over and say ‘Hey Stace,’ and twirl his finger, which means treat those guys and put it on my account. He’s a big pay it forward guy,” Ludden said.
When asked about his favorite part about coming to 802 Nutrition, Oakman quickly responded with “the people.”
His daughter, Sheryl Fox added on, “Without them there would be no 802 Nutrition. There would be no breakfast club.”
“You can compare it to “Cheers” in Boston. Everybody knows your name… that’s what it’s like when you come here,” Fox said.
When asked about what people can expect from 802 Nutrition in the coming years, Ludden said that they will continue to be here, saying they are cemented in the community.
