Daily Squeeze<\/a>, a Black Jamaican-owned premium juice bar tucked away in a bustling strip mall, the first thing that hits you isn\u2019t just the aroma of ripe pineapples and fresh ginger \u2014 it\u2019s the feeling of community.\u00a0<\/p>\nIn celebration of Small Business Month, Now Toronto headed northwest to chat with the team that keeps the vibes up and the juices flowing at Daily Squeeze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Known for its refreshing smoothies, cold-pressed juices, bubble tea slushes and wellness iced teas that bring a taste of the Caribbean to the Greater Toronto Area, owner Marlon Morris opened Daily Squeeze with a love for health and an even bigger passion for food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHealth is wealth,\u201d Morris told Now Toronto. \u201cWithout health, we have nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Morris first opened Daily Squeeze in March 2024, he admits his biggest challenge was none other than himself. Though a longtime dreamer of being an entrepreneur, he says what nearly stopped him was a persistent fear of failure, even recalling how he delayed opening the shop for five months after renovations were complete.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I realized that if you start, you figure it out on the way,\u201d he said. \u201cI learned more while working in the shop than I thought I\u2019d known before opening!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Today, Daily Squeeze serves up classical island-inspired blends, from the \u201cTropical Pina Colada\u201d to nostalgic flavours like sugar cane juice, each sip is crafted to nourish both body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Morris says a fan favourite is the \u201cSuper Power,\u201d a gym-rat\u2019s nutrient-dense dream, consisting of protein powder, bananas, pumpkin seeds, oats and flax seeds. But for Morris, it\u2019s never been just about the drinks; it\u2019s about creating connections that keep customers coming back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe add love in our drinks \u2013 it\u2019s our special ingredient,\u201d he said. \u201cWe love what we do, and we also care about our customers\u2026 We welcome everyone to be a part of the Daily Squeeze family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond its extensive menu, Daily Squeeze is all about energy, and much of that comes from the workers behind the counter. Regulars know server Jerome Lothian, affectionately dubbed \u201cSmoothie Bae,\u201d for his charm, service with a smile, and spontaneous smooth vocals. Earlier this year, the shop gained traction when Lothian shared a series of R&B covers on the shop\u2019s Instagram page, attracting an audience drawn as much to his personality as to the drinks themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just cleaning up at work one day, and then a song just appeared in my heart,\u201d he explained. \u201cI set up a camera, videoed myself singing, and posted it online.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Besides the \u201cimmaculate vibe,\u201d Lothian says he enjoys working at Daily Squeeze for the ambiance, from the top-tier playlist setting the mood to the comforting atmosphere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the moment you walk into the store, you just feel welcomed and at home,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And if you\u2019re looking for the Smoothie Bae\u2019s recommendations, he says an Immune Booster \u2013 a superfood-charged smoothie with kale, spinach, ginger, lemon, pineapples and mangoes \u2013 with a heaping handful of mango jelly is all the rave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daily Squeeze is also giving young people a start. Through a co-op program, the shop offers students hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, food prep, and customer service. Nicolas Guerra, one of the current co-op students, says being a part of the team is more than just a job,\u00a0 it\u2019s a lesson in community.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just get to meet and learn a lot about people,\u201d Guerra said. \u201cI\u2019ve learned about a lot of nutrition and how to portion drinks properly. I learned better communication and talking skills. I\u2019ve learned how to really grow as a person.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With its vibrant greenery, soundtracks for the culture, and a menu that includes everything from detox blends to peanut punch, Daily Squeeze is not just a place to refuel, but a space to reconnect.<\/p>\n
As Morris and his team continue to grow, they remain focused on keeping the community at the centre of everything they do. Aspiring to someday expand to Toronto, he hopes to first inspire people like him, showing that the sky is the limit.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a Black, young, fly entrepreneur, I want to be able to inspire other Black young individuals who want to step out and try something,\u201d he said. \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid, don\u2019t be intimidated by big brands. Just start and go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At a Brampton plaza full of franchises and chain restaurants, one small business proudly stands out: bright, fragrant,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":250934,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[64,63,148846,148847,99,198,137,532,3920],"class_list":{"0":"post-250933","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entrepreneurship","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-black-owned","11":"tag-brampton","12":"tag-business","13":"tag-entrepreneurship","14":"tag-health","15":"tag-nutrition","16":"tag-toronto"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250933","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=250933"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250933\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/250934"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250933"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=250933"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=250933"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}