We recently connected with Lauren Hoheusle and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

It all started with Instagram. I was on my own personal journey of healing after the stillbirth of my daughter at 35 weeks. I turned to holistic health—exploring nutrition, Ayurveda, and the mind-body connection. As I learned more, I began creating vibrant, nourishing smoothie bowls in my kitchen. I loved the creativity behind recipes that made you feel good and looked just as beautiful. I’d set up mini photoshoots in my backyard and post them online.

People started noticing. Friends asked if I could make them bowls. Then strangers began messaging me asking where my café was located—I didn’t even have a storefront! I started saying yes anyway and would literally meet people in parking lots, handing smoothie bowls out of the trunk of my car.

That’s when I realized I was onto something real.

I started doing pop-ups and farmer’s markets. It kept growing, and eventually, I took the leap: I quit my full-time job and decided to open a brick-and-mortar space. From there, I navigated permits, sourcing, equipment, licensing, and everything else that comes with starting a food business from scratch.

I didn’t have a blueprint—just passion, purpose, and the drive to create a space that could nourish people the way I had nourished myself. Chakra Bowls was born out of heartbreak, healing, and a whole lot of bowls—and now it’s a space where wellness, creativity, and community come together every single day.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

Absolutely. When COVID hit in 2020, everything changed overnight. Restaurants were forced to shut down, and we were terrified—not just for our health, but for the future of the business. At the time, we were located next to a gym, which was a major source of our customer base. With both industries suddenly shut down, we were facing a serious crisis.

We got scrappy. We returned to our roots—direct-to-customer delivery. I started personally delivering bowls to customers with a no-contact option, just trying to keep things moving. That’s when we launched the Feed the Frontline campaign. It was simple but powerful: customers could donate any amount, and we used 100% of the funds to make and deliver nourishing smoothies and bowls to hospital staff working long, exhausting hours.

It gave people a way to help when no one knew what to do—and it gave us purpose and income at a time when everything felt uncertain. We were recognized locally for the campaign, and the buzz brought new eyes to what we were doing. Against all odds, we didn’t just survive—we grew during COVID. That moment taught me the power of pivoting, community, and staying heart-centered no matter what.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think what helped us build our reputation was being first—we were truly pioneers in our area. When we launched, no one was doing smoothie bowls or even offering health-conscious food locally. We introduced something totally new, and it caught people’s attention. At first, we were “just the bowl place,” and honestly, we were proud of that. But we didn’t stop there.

Over the past six years, we’ve evolved into a full-blown café with a wide range of offerings—from smoothies and juices to salads, toasts, wellness shots, and more. We’ve grown with the times, stayed on trend, and listened to what our community wanted—without ever losing our core values of real, nourishing food made with intention.

What’s always set us apart is that we lead with passion. Chakra Bowls wasn’t created as a business strategy—it was created from a deep desire to help people feel good. That energy is something our customers have felt from the beginning, and I believe that authenticity is what built our name and keeps people coming back.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.chakrabowlscafe.com
• Instagram: @chakrabowls
• Facebook: Chakra Bowls

Image Credits
Alex Healy, Alex Healy Studios