Froots, the restaurant with the unusual name in the Meridian Market View Mall, opened to the public Dec. 6. One day earlier, Froots held an event for the El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund.In keeping with the Froots logo – “eat, drink, be healthy,” the menu consists of wraps, soups, salads, smoothies, shakes and fresh juices; including wheat grass.”I’ve always wanted to go into business,” said owner Tony Cecelia, who lives in Latigo Trails. Cecelia also is a manager for Taylor Farms, which processes and distributes produce throughout the country.Froots is Cecelia’s second business venture. “I tried an automotive shop years ago. I partnered with a friend, and that just didn’t work out,” he said.”I’ve been itching for the last four or five years to do something. I’ve always wanted to get in the food business. I was going to do a wings place, but other things got in the way. This opportunity happened in March, so I pulled the trigger.”A sluggish economy is a challenge, but Cecelia is prepared to ride it out. He also mentioned that December is not a great time to open a restaurant.However, “Donald Trump and all those other people aren’t stopping what they’re doing,” he said. “You have to make sure what you’re doing is right.”Froots is the right concept. People are looking for healthier food. As I get older, I pay attention to things I wish I had paid attention to when I was younger.”Cecelia said people’s lives are too fast for home-cooked meals, but the increase in diabetes and concerns about high cholesterol and high blood pressure have prompted changes in the “way they manage their lives.” The Froots menu is designed to produce quick but healthy meals that can be eaten in or taken out.Examples of the fare include the Santa Fe wrap, which is stuffed with Mesquite chicken, black beans, jack cheese, corn, jalapeno, romaine lettuce, tomato, onion and chipotle mayonnaise; and then toasted – all for $6.49.The smoothie menu features combinations of strawberries, mango, peaches, blueberries and raspberries, with prices ranging from $3.99 to $5.99, depending on the size.Cecelia said he’ll continue to work for Taylor Farms while getting Froots up and running, and he may eventually open more stores in Colorado.It’s an investment for Froots and a chance to work with his sons, ages 11 and 16, he said. Cecelia’s ex-wife Anna also works at the restaurant.Cecelia said he enjoys managing the Falcon-area teenagers he has hired. They’re young, make mistakes and are still “learning the way of the world,” he said.At the Froots training facility in Florida a couple of months ago – Cecelia and his 16-year-old son attended – he said the most interesting thing he learned was how to carry a knife.”Don’t carry a knife in your dominant hand,” he said. “If you slip and fall, you’re going to reach out with your dominant hand and that knife will automatically come back at you.”To me, those little things are what make you successful. It’s not the big things. It’s how you manage those little details.”Froots is a young franchise company, Cecelia said. They’ve experienced a few “growing pains,” he added.”They’ve only been selling franchises since 2004. They’re being very pro-active and that’s what I like about it. I’ve got two guys out here that support me while we’re opening. Even though they’re young, even though they’re still small, they’re doing a good job with support.”Froots also caters. Cecelia said he would like to cater sports events in the Falcon area this year. And this summer, diners will enjoy a patio area with plenty of sunshine.”I’m not going to get rewarded in this business for a while, but I figure in the next three years, we’ll be established,” he said. “This area is just exploding and the economy will rebound. We’ll be OK.”
