Sweetgreen Restaurant: “You can make more money by being good to the world”

Want to eat healthy at a good cost and a place you trust? Sweetgreen is the place to be!

My friend had been raving about a restaurant she tried back in March of 2013 when she was visiting Washington D.C. She knew a location in NYC recently opened and took me the day she landed.

She said, “Welcome to the life of Sweetgreen!”

Fortunately for me, the owner happened to be there and I had the opportunity to interview him and today happens to be his birthday. Happy Birthday Jonathan! You make this world a better place!!

Candice Assil & The Doost

Timing is everything and in this case mine happened to be perfect. I met a man who helped create an easier way for a healthier living! Jonathan Neman is one of the creators behind Sweetgreen and an innovator of our time. Sweetgreen is this idea built on “good values, clean honest and affordable food,” explains Neman.

Sweetgreen is a destination for delicious food that’s both healthy for you and aligned with your values. We source local and organic ingredients from farmers we know and partners we trust, supporting our communities and creating meaningful relationships with those around us. We exist to create experiences where passion and purpose come together.

Jonathan and his friends had a craving for healthy delicious food at an affordable price. The idea originated in 2007, when he was attending college at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. Partnering up with Nicolas Jammet and Nathaniel Ru which seems to be one of the best things he’s done for himself.

Choose the people you work with carefully, they are more important than what you do!

The creators of Sweetgreen, from left, Nathaniel Ru, Nicolas Jammet and Jonathan Neman, with their Guacamole Greens salad.

Here is some excellent advice from Neman who turned 29 today:

Know your ‘why’ and ‘who!’ The people from inside to outside of the company are everything. The ‘why’ and ‘who’ is the product. Both very important but the ‘why’ comes first, then the ‘who.’

The ambience is fresh and comfortable! A lot of open space and good colors.

In the NYC location, impressive black & white framed pictures hang on the wall expressing a big part of Sweetgreen, music!

The restaurant is located on Broadway between 28th and 29th street. A great place for a fast but healthy meal. Great for lunches, meetings between friends or co-workers and open enough to spend an afternoon there writing away.

The same core values that drive our business influence our store design. In the spirit of “keeping it real,” we seek to preserve and expose the natural structure of a building, no matter the cost. Finishes such as reclaimed hickory, barn board pine and bowling alley tables are tangible examples of our commitment to sustainability. Explore the evolution of Sweetgreen below.

It started out as a side project and his business degree paved the rest for Neman. One store in D.C. soon blossomed into 20 locations.

Sweetgreen 1164 Broadway New York, NY 10001

Music is a big part of Sweetgreen. So in part, the ‘Sweet Life Festival’ was born. Promoting healthy living and donating to charities. A party with a purpose!

The Sweet Life Festival is a music and food party presented by Sweetgreen. They target a different charity in every city, broadening the company’s ability to help. For more pictures and information click here.

Huffington Post writes;

The festival is now in its fourth year, and will feature other eateries: D.C. food trucks; restaurant visitors from New York City, like Bushwick favorite Roberta’s; and other outfits, including Luke’s Lobster, oyster purveyor Rappahannock, DC Brau, Flying Dog, Mountain State Brewing Co., Peak Organic Brewery, Chocolate City Beer and Boordy Wines. Chefs RJ Cooper and Erik Bruner-Yang, of Rogue24 and Toki Underground, respectively, will also be on hand crafting food and drink offerings.

Sweetgreens is  a great place for deliciously healthy salads, wraps, dessert and drinks. They provide it all!

Model Cat Widdifield enjoying her Vegan wrap

Sweetgreen NYC location

You can make more money by being good to the world!

Read more about the men behind the idea here.

And check out their website here.

Jonathan Neman