Freshens

Located at 10450 State St in Sandy, Freshens presents itself as a counter-serve chain focused on health-conscious offerings, primarily known for its smoothies and frozen yogurt. The brand broadly promotes a "100% clean ingredients" promise, suggesting a commitment to fresh, unprocessed food. However, the customer experience at this specific Utah location appears to consistently fall short of that promise, as reflected in a strikingly low overall rating and a collection of detailed, negative reviews.

With an operational status that includes dine-in, takeout, and a wheelchair accessible entrance, the basic amenities are in place. The hours are fairly standard, running from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM most days and offering a slightly shorter window on Sundays. Yet, beyond these logistical conveniences, a pattern of significant issues emerges from customer feedback, casting a serious shadow over the quality of its products and service.

The Discrepancy in Smoothie Quality

The core of the Freshens brand is its menu of fresh fruit smoothies. The company's marketing emphasizes that their smoothies contain no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, or flavors, instead using real fruits and vegetables. Despite these claims, patrons of the Sandy location have reported a starkly different reality. A recurring and powerful criticism is that the smoothies do not taste fresh. One highly detailed account described the product as being made from "sugary syrups" rather than the expected real frozen fruit. This resulted in a beverage that was characterized as "processed" and "overly sweet." The reviewer went so far as to call it "diabetes in a cup," and pointed out the high added sugar content, which they felt contradicted the healthy image the juice shop projects.

This sentiment is not an isolated one. Other visitors have echoed the complaint of excessive sweetness in the smoothies. Another review mentioned a green smoothie that was supposed to contain fruit but instead tasted like "cold plant powder," completely lacking any genuine fruit flavor. This feedback directly challenges the brand's "100% clean" slogan and suggests a fundamental disconnect between the marketed product and what is actually served at this franchise. While the corporate website lists appealing combinations like the "Goin' Green" with fresh kale, spinach, mango, and pineapple, the on-the-ground experience appears to be a significant letdown for those expecting authentic, natural ingredients.

Beyond Smoothies: Issues with Other Menu Items

The problems are not confined to the beverage menu. Freshens also offers a variety of food items, including savory and sweet crepes, rice bowls, and salads. Unfortunately, the feedback on these items is equally concerning. Multiple customers have specifically criticized the crepes, using the same word to describe their texture: "crunchy." This is a significant flaw for a dish that should be soft and pliable. In addition to the poor texture, reviewers noted that the crepes had "sparse fillings," making for an unsatisfying meal.

This pattern of poor food quality extends to a general sentiment of disappointment. One customer summarized their experience by stating the food was "terrible" and not at all what they were led to expect. Such consistent reports on multiple product lines—from the signature smoothies to the crepes—indicate a potential systemic issue with food preparation, ingredient quality, or adherence to recipes at this particular location.

Service and Atmosphere Concerns

The perceived quality of a business is often a combination of its products and its people. At the Sandy Freshens, customer service and the general atmosphere have also drawn heavy criticism. Several reviews paint a picture of an unmotivated and disengaged staff. One visitor noted that the "workers looked miserable," while another felt that the "people don’t seem to care." This perception of apathy can significantly detract from the customer experience, even if the food were perfect.

However, one report details a situation that goes beyond simple indifference into serious concerns about hygiene and management response. A customer, recovering from mouth surgery and being extra cautious, observed an employee preparing drinks while "breathing open mouthed and sticking his tongue in and out." The customer requested that someone else prepare their drink to ensure sanitary conditions. According to the review, this reasonable request was refused. Instead of addressing the hygiene concern, the staff allegedly refunded the money and accused the customer of discriminating against the employee. This reported incident is particularly alarming, as it points to a failure in basic food safety protocols and an exceptionally poor handling of a customer's valid concern, especially in a health-focused establishment.

The Menu's Promise

Looking at the broader Freshens menu available online, the potential for a positive experience is clear. The brand offers a wide variety of options that cater to different tastes and dietary needs. These include:

• Classic & Wellness Smoothies: A large selection ranging from the "Caribbean Craze" (bananas and strawberries) to wellness-focused blends like the "Oh Kale Smoothie" with organic greens.
• Rice Bowls: Globally inspired options like the Spicy Korean, Mexican, and Thai Chicken bowls.
• Crepes: A full lineup of savory options like Pesto Chicken and breakfast-oriented crepes, as well as dessert crepes with Nutella.
• Other Offerings: The menu also includes grilled flatbreads, fresh salads, and acai bowls.

The brand's commitment to providing meatless options using Quorn is also a notable feature for vegetarian customers. This diverse menu suggests a business model that is well-aligned with current trends toward fast, customizable, and healthy eating. The tragedy for the Sandy location is the apparent failure to execute this vision, turning a promising concept into a source of customer frustration.

For potential customers of the Freshens at 10450 State St, the available feedback presents a challenging picture. While the convenience of its location, accessibility, and broad menu of healthy snacks and meals are factual positives, they are overshadowed by a significant volume of negative firsthand accounts. The core complaints are consistent and severe: fresh fruit smoothies that taste artificial and overly sweet, poorly prepared food like "crunchy" crepes, and a service environment that ranges from apathetic to outright problematic.

The stark contrast between the brand's vibrant, health-centric marketing and the reported customer reality at this smoothie bar is its most defining feature. While individual experiences can vary, the low overall rating and the detailed, corroborating reviews suggest that patrons should approach this particular Freshens location with managed expectations. The only sliver of positivity found in the reviews was an employee allowing a customer to trade their unsatisfactory smoothie for water, but this minor act of good service does little to offset the weight of the widespread criticism.