Premier Nutrition

A Grand Opening for Premier Nutrition in North Providence!

By Mark Berger Photos By: Guillermo Garcia

Dave Piatek and Johnna Pitochelli wanted to expand their nutritionbased business. ey were already successful in their initial e orts at e Nutrition Station, located on 935 Park Ave. in Cranston, and believed that in a fast-paced world, more people are becoming interested in healthier meal options.

ere was one problem, however: opening a new Nutrition Club during a worldwide pandemic. Both Piatek and Pitochelli weighed the pros and cons of making that type of move. Would these small mom-and-pop facilities continue to survive?

Ultimately, the duo decided to embark on a second location, this time in North Providence. Premier Nutrition, located on 1375 Mineral Spring Ave., o ers popular favorites, as well as new concoctions. Both locations serve energizing calorie-burning teas, delicious meal replacement smoothies that are low-cal, low-carb and high in protein. Additionally, both locations serve snacks such as protein balls, bars, and mu ns. ey are always working on developing new products to keep good nutrition exciting.

So, why North Providence? “Johnna grew up in town and graduated from North Providence High School and was looking forward to bringing the dream to her hometown,” Piatek explained. “ e location is conveniently located next to Route 146 and can provide a healthy alternative for the many businesses and residents in the area. Local residents know our building as Monticello’s. It’s a great location with a lot of tra c on Mineral Spring Avenue.”

Pitochelli said the di erence between the two locations is its vibe. She said the idea for Premier Nutrition is to o er customers a place to escape the hustle and bustle of life. People are intrigued by the warm atmosphere when they enter the store.

Added Pitochelli, “We are all about bringing people together in a friendly environment. We also o er tips and drink suggestions for those

coming in for the rst time. We want our customers to feel comfortable here and tell others about us.”

ey opened their new location on May 5 to rave reviews. eir two most popular smoothie selections include the Peanut M&M Sundae that they said people have been “going bonkers” over and their newest, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Smoothie. Also, their power teas are not only delicious, but metabolism-boosting to provide a healthy boost of energy for the drinkers. e couple said they enjoy experimenting with other avors and seeing their customers’ responses. e look of awe on customers’ faces after their initial sip is what is most rewarding to everyone working at these locations.

e last year-plus brought forth several challenges that the pair needed to overcome to continue being successful. ey needed to maintain the Cranston location by ensuring sta didn’t lose their jobs, set up sanitation outlets, put up dividers and implement other protocols to keep everyone safe. ey did everything they possibly could to remain open during COVID-19 restrictions. Even so, it wasn’t easy, at times.

“ is was something we struggled with for 18 months, Pitochelli said. “In the end, we remained open and our employees were not impacted as much as they could have been.”

e couple is proud to have passed all State and Department of Health inspections with perfect scores. eir commitment to safety was de nitely noticed by their customers.

e couple said that their expansion plans are not over. ey are hoping to have several additional locations when they are done. “ ese places are very special to us. We have created a positive environment where people can come and develop relationships with others,” Pitochelli said.

Premier Nutrition and e Nutrition Station are open weekdays from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. eir intention is to open on Sundays during the fall.

Additional information about both Clubs may be found on Instagram at @premiernutritionri and @ thenutritionstation401. Visitors can learn more about special o ers and upcoming events.