Nucleus Raw Foods Creating Positive Change

Nucleus Raw Foods offers more than just wonderful raw vegan treats.

The excellent menu only touches the surface of what the community may expect from the modest café buried away in the Luzerne Bank building.

Kamri Ramirez, co-owner and only employee at the 67-69 Public Square site, aspired to alter the world when she finished her degree at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.

“I wanted to help the world in some way and I thought it would be through the environmental sciences,” she stated.

With her environmental science degree in hand and a clear desire to make a good difference, she began looking for internships and other opportunities.

Her father died just as she was going to start graduate school at a college in Hawaii. She would meet Danielle McGrogan at a yoga class in a serendipitous turn of events. Ramirez (née Jacobs) was notified by McGrogan that she was planning to launch a raw vegan café. Nucleus’ Luzerne location, at 63 Main St., was born from that concept. Ramirez put off starting graduate school for a year to deal with her loss and began working with McGrogan, who she credits with teaching her about health and wellbeing.

“I just loved it. And I was like, whoa, is this, is this possibly what I could do? Can I help people and help the world in the way of, you know, teaching them about food, offering food to them and allowing them to clear their brains, clear their belly, clear their bodies… I ended up staying,” she reflected.

McGrogan invited her to join, and the Wilkes-Barre location debuted in 2019.

The epidemic struck in March of the following year. Ramirez, on the other hand, claims that Nucleus was carried through by faithful clients, and that the “clutch” walk-up window provided more than enough of a means to continue providing downtown with delectable, healthy, and therapeutic cuisine. This was especially important during a time when everyone needed to exercise some self-care.

It was difficult for Ramirez and her business partner to not have clients in the store, but they persevered, as has seemingly become a motto.

It wasn’t all horrible, after all.

The Diamond City Partnership outfitted the shop with some outdoor seating and plants, allowing customers to people watch while sipping a tasty smoothie or simply relax and catch up on the news.

The real shocker, though, is the quantity of life crammed into the tiny shop, which used to be the bank manager’s office. The World’s Tiniest Museum, a customer library, a record player and some 45s, and a banana wall, all depicted by local artists, the colors, and Ramirez’s pleasantness – it’s practically difficult not to be elevated when you come in.

That is, after all, the goal.

Do you have a horrible day on your mind? It’s gone the moment you go into Nucleus. “You don’t need it… Leave it here. We’ll take care of it. Right in the trash. You’re good. You’re safe,” said Ramirez. 

Nucleus is now marketing both their smoothie bowls and their new Juice Journey. The Juice Journey is a take-home juice cleanse that costs $125 for three days of juice-only meals. The team is also working on pricing for different days of the cleanse. For more information, visit one of the two sites or call the Luzerne store at 570-569-2139 or the Public Square store at 570-550-1860.

On the subject of two sites, the original Nucleus Raw Food in Luzerne will be celebrating its eighth anniversary on Feb. 21 – a cause worthy of a nutritious dinner and stimulating conversation.

Nucleus sites are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the Luzerne store is also open on Saturdays during those hours. You can also place an order online and pick it up later. For additional information, go to www.nucleusrawfoods.com.

Source: “Nucleus Raw Foods serves up vegan delights, positive atmosphere”