The Big Squeezy juice bar to open in Perkins Road overpass area

Construction is underway in the Perkins Road overpass area for a cold-press juice bar that is scheduled to open later this fall. The Big Squeezy is the name co-owners Kim Matsko and Samir Abdo are giving to their new venture, which will serve juices and superfood smoothies, as well as other offerings. Matsko, who owns the Yoga Bliss yoga studio, and Abdo, a former Los Angeles, Calif. restaurateur, selected the 1,400-square-foot location at 3430 Perkins Road because of good market demographics also because the space is large enough to accommodate their cutting edge hydraulic press, which they intend to use to make juices that can be sold not only on Perkins Road but at other, future locations they hope to develop. “This location will not only be a storefront but our common kitchen,” Abdo says. “So the juice will be produced and bottled here so we can probably support five or six satellite locations out of this one store.” Already, the partners are looking at sites for additional stores in Lafayette and in Uptown New Orleans, as well as a second location in Baton Rouge. Besides offering fresh juices and smoothies, the Big Squeezy is focused on serving products made with local ingredients. Though it’s not possible to procure all the locally grown greens and fruits needed for smoothies and juices year round, Abdo says he intends to buy as much fresh and local produce as possible. —Stephanie Riegel