E.C. FAST FUEL: The New Fast Food

words & photos by mckenna scherer

SOMETIMES, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE, YOU HAVE TO DO IT YOURSELF – JUST ASK DAKOTA YARRINGTON, the brains behind Fast Fuel. Located inside Eau Claire’s Banbury Place, Fast Fuel is a whole food grab-andgo stop, or as its punchline says, “the new fast food.”

Fast Fuel has established itself purely off word-of-mouth in the area, which speaks volumes about its products and atmosphere. Known for its fresh-pressed juices – the pressing kitchen is right across the hall from the retail space in Banbury – Fast Fuel also sells energy bites, salads, and popular buildyour-own avocado toast.

The small business’s first year has been wildly successful, so much so that Fast Fuel has yet to have an official grand opening or one-year anniversary celebration, although they turned one this June. To some, this may come as a surprise, as Yarrington’s idea for Fast Fuel was shot down several times before he decided to run with it.

“In Eau Claire, I was told ‘no’ about four years ago. (I was told), ‘Eau Claire is for burgers and beer, you can’t open a juice bar around here.’ So, a lot of naysayers,” Yarrington said. “Then once I opened up, everybody was like, ‘Oh, this is awesome, it’s different.’ So, it may be a different clientele and totally different vibe, but people wanted it.”