When Alex and Madison Kamakas decided to leave behind their corporate careers and venture out into business ownership, they knew they would need something they could grow over the long-term. Upon discovering Main Squeeze Juice Co., the burgeoning 30-unit juice bar and smoothie franchise, the concept not only appealed to them as health-conscious consumers, but also as entrepreneurs looking to scale. Now, with two Main Squeeze locations under their belt and a plan to open two more in St. Louis, the couple are a prime example of how the juice and smoothie brand positions multi-unit franchise owners for success.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Madison, with project management experience in various industries, including a significant stint in education non-profit, and Alex, coming from a consulting background in due diligence and market research, were both seeking a change from the corporate grind.
“I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I knew I had to find the right fit,” said Alex. “We leaned towards franchising because we knew it would give us a playbook. It would be so hard to develop something like this without an immense amount of capital and time. The franchise route gives you an easier way to accomplish those goals, while still running your own business.”
So, the couple started researching franchise concepts, drawn specifically to the health and wellness category.
“We go to juice and smoothie bars multiple times a week,” said Madison. “We looked at several of the big players in that market, but we couldn’t find a franchise that matched what we were looking for. After a few weeks, Alex came across Main Squeeze. We loved the look, the branding, the menu — it felt like a very approachable way to juicing. That is something that was really missing here in St. Louis.”
When the duo met with the Main Squeeze team, they felt a connection right away. “We liked that it was a smaller brand,” said Alex. “It meant we could be on the ground floor bringing it to a new region.”
In 2022, Alex and Madison officially opened their first location in a charming, older building in St. Louis, blending the essence of the city with Main Squeeze's modern branding.
Since opening, the Kamakas’ say the past year has been a mix of hard work and rewarding experiences. Their unique position in St. Louis, introducing the concept of cold-pressed juices to many customers in the region, has been both a challenge and an opportunity. But from day one, Alex says the hands-on support from Main Squeeze's corporate team has been essential.
“The CEO came up and did a site evaluation with us in St. Louis,” said Alex. “You wouldn’t get that level of attention and support from a franchisor with 1,000 stores.”
In October 2023, the Kamakas’ were able to open a second location, about 15 minutes away from their original spot, by converting an existing juice bar into a Main Squeeze. This has been a popular strategy for the brand across the country — targeting second-gen sites for conversion in order to bring new life and passion to existing locations and streamline the opening process for franchise owners.
“Since we already had one opening under our belt, we were able to plan for this one a lot better,” said Madison. “We feel like experts already.”
Looking ahead, Alex and Madison have ambitious plans for Main Squeeze in St. Louis, aiming to dominate the market with four stores total. This potential scalability was a key factor in their decision to franchise with the brand in the first place.
“The Main Squeeze business model really lends itself to multi-unit ownership,” said Alex. “You are able to spread out cost savings across locations, for example, so it is easier to scale operations. A lot of other juice establishments may not have an industrial size machine like we do, but it allows us to benefit from economies of scale and supply juices to both of our locations.”
While the Kamakas’ say Main Squeeze is well-suited to multi-unit ownership, they also note that franchisees still need to put in the hard work. “You can’t be a passive owner – you have to be up close and personal,” said Alex. “If you do that, you can do pretty well.”
Overall, the Kamakas’ say they are most excited to continue playing a key role in the Main Squeeze story. Both Madison and Alex are currently on the Main Squeeze Franchise Action Committee, for example, where they collaborate with the leadership team to test new menu items, share best practices and more.
“It has been really cool to work alongside the team and ensure franchise owners have their input,” said Madison. “We are in touch with a lot of different Main Squeeze owners, so having that network of support has been amazing.”
The Main Squeeze team is currently looking for passionate and qualified franchise owners like the Kamakas’ to expand in prime markets like Texas, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.
“We are thrilled to have Alex and Madison Kamakas as part of our Main Squeeze family,” said Main Squeeze CEO Thomas Nieto. “What they have achieved in St. Louis demonstrates why Main Squeeze is well-positioned for multi-unit owners who are willing to put in the dedication and hard work. We are excited to continue partnering with growth-minded, multi-unit franchise owners across the country.”
For more information on franchising with Main Squeeze Juice Co., visit: https://1851franchise.com/mainsqueezejuiceco/
Main Squeeze Juice Co.
SPONSORED
With ambitious plans to open four stores throughout the St. Louis market, Alex and Madison Kamakas are showcasing the scalability of the juice and smoothie franchise.
When Alex and Madison Kamakas decided to leave behind their corporate careers and venture out into business ownership, they knew they would need something they could grow over the long-term. Upon discovering Main Squeeze Juice Co., the burgeoning 30-unit juice bar and smoothie franchise, the concept not only appealed to them as health-conscious consumers, but also as entrepreneurs looking to scale. Now, with two Main Squeeze locations under their belt and a plan to open two more in St. Louis, the couple are a prime example of how the juice and smoothie brand positions multi-unit franchise owners for success.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Madison, with project management experience in various industries, including a significant stint in education non-profit, and Alex, coming from a consulting background in due diligence and market research, were both seeking a change from the corporate grind.
“I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I knew I had to find the right fit,” said Alex. “We leaned towards franchising because we knew it would give us a playbook. It would be so hard to develop something like this without an immense amount of capital and time. The franchise route gives you an easier way to accomplish those goals, while still running your own business.”
So, the couple started researching franchise concepts, drawn specifically to the health and wellness category.
“We go to juice and smoothie bars multiple times a week,” said Madison. “We looked at several of the big players in that market, but we couldn’t find a franchise that matched what we were looking for. After a few weeks, Alex came across Main Squeeze. We loved the look, the branding, the menu — it felt like a very approachable way to juicing. That is something that was really missing here in St. Louis.”
When the duo met with the Main Squeeze team, they felt a connection right away. “We liked that it was a smaller brand,” said Alex. “It meant we could be on the ground floor bringing it to a new region.”
In 2022, Alex and Madison officially opened their first location in a charming, older building in St. Louis, blending the essence of the city with Main Squeeze's modern branding.
Since opening, the Kamakas’ say the past year has been a mix of hard work and rewarding experiences. Their unique position in St. Louis, introducing the concept of cold-pressed juices to many customers in the region, has been both a challenge and an opportunity. But from day one, Alex says the hands-on support from Main Squeeze's corporate team has been essential.
“The CEO came up and did a site evaluation with us in St. Louis,” said Alex. “You wouldn’t get that level of attention and support from a franchisor with 1,000 stores.”
In October 2023, the Kamakas’ were able to open a second location, about 15 minutes away from their original spot, by converting an existing juice bar into a Main Squeeze. This has been a popular strategy for the brand across the country — targeting second-gen sites for conversion in order to bring new life and passion to existing locations and streamline the opening process for franchise owners.
“Since we already had one opening under our belt, we were able to plan for this one a lot better,” said Madison. “We feel like experts already.”
Looking ahead, Alex and Madison have ambitious plans for Main Squeeze in St. Louis, aiming to dominate the market with four stores total. This potential scalability was a key factor in their decision to franchise with the brand in the first place.
“The Main Squeeze business model really lends itself to multi-unit ownership,” said Alex. “You are able to spread out cost savings across locations, for example, so it is easier to scale operations. A lot of other juice establishments may not have an industrial size machine like we do, but it allows us to benefit from economies of scale and supply juices to both of our locations.”
While the Kamakas’ say Main Squeeze is well-suited to multi-unit ownership, they also note that franchisees still need to put in the hard work. “You can’t be a passive owner – you have to be up close and personal,” said Alex. “If you do that, you can do pretty well.”
Overall, the Kamakas’ say they are most excited to continue playing a key role in the Main Squeeze story. Both Madison and Alex are currently on the Main Squeeze Franchise Action Committee, for example, where they collaborate with the leadership team to test new menu items, share best practices and more.
“It has been really cool to work alongside the team and ensure franchise owners have their input,” said Madison. “We are in touch with a lot of different Main Squeeze owners, so having that network of support has been amazing.”
The Main Squeeze team is currently looking for passionate and qualified franchise owners like the Kamakas’ to expand in prime markets like Texas, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.
“We are thrilled to have Alex and Madison Kamakas as part of our Main Squeeze family,” said Main Squeeze CEO Thomas Nieto. “What they have achieved in St. Louis demonstrates why Main Squeeze is well-positioned for multi-unit owners who are willing to put in the dedication and hard work. We are excited to continue partnering with growth-minded, multi-unit franchise owners across the country.”
For more information on franchising with Main Squeeze Juice Co., visit: https://1851franchise.com/mainsqueezejuiceco/
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