COEUR d'ALENE - The Wellness Bar, a new business on Fourth Street downtown, has opened.

It offers fresh, raw juice and smoothies.

Monica Engebretsen, co-owner with her husband, Tait, said they are trying to meet the demand of Coeur d'Alene's legion of fitness buffs. They hope to expand to Hayden next spring.

"The demand for raw juice has grown nationally, and with Cd'A's huge fitness industry, we knew the demand had to be met here as well," she said. "When we attempted a mid-week 'soft opening' we were absolutely swamped with customers. We ran out of produce three times that day."

The business has three employees and is located at 312 N. Fourth St. It's the couple's first business. Monica Engebretsen is a Coeur d'Alene native and Lake City High School graduate.

The Wellness Bar makes the juice on-premises, while customers wait, from locally-sourced produce when it's available.

The store uses cucumber, avocado, beets, ginger, kale, spinach and mint to create eight specialized juices and five smoothies, along with organic, kosher espresso and fruit and herb infused waters.

Hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.