About Us
Ripe founders Peter Kambitsis and Elias Kalogiros are gym rats, and they didn’t mind being called that. What they did mind was not being able to find a healthy place to eat after their workouts. You know, a place to get a quick meal with slow-food flavor, without a ton of fat or bucket of empty calories. A place where, no matter how hungry you are or what craving you have, you couldn’t help order something healthy that left you totally satisfied, with no diner’s remorse.
Fortunately for their community, Peter and Elias are also foodies and successful restauranteurs in New York City. Combining their profession with a lifestyle passion, they opened Ripe Juice Bar & Grill in 2008. They made sure that the food they wanted to eat and the juices they wanted to drink were always available.
Obviously, these guys are just a little particular about they what they put in their bodies. Turns out, so were a lot of people in their neighborhood. Ripe customers went far beyond the heath nuts and body builders who were giddy about having a truly healthy alternative. People of all ages and interests—from gym-goers to office workers to helicopter moms to couples on a date—came in to sample Ripe’s squeezed-to-order juices and smoothies, and made-to-order wraps, overflowing salads, lean burgers and flame-grilled entrees.
Funny thing was, Ripe’s original plan was to be a top-notch juice bar that served food in case customers were hungry. Turns out, they came for the juice and stayed for the food.
And they kept coming — sometimes two or three times a day. They brought their friends, they brought their kids, they brought their commitment to eating fresh, eating ripe, eating healthy — and loving every bite.
Our Founding Foodies
Peter Kambitsis
Peter Kambitsis has more than 15 years of experience as a business owner and entrepreneur. In addition to Ripe Juice Bar & Grill, he has started, owned, and launched multiple successful businesses including Exo Café, Restaurant Consulting, Freshark Juice Bar & Grill Franchise and others. With an amazing track record in business, Peter has honed his keen abilities for strategic planning, problem solving, and business valuations.
A business guy, Peter earned his International Business & Marketing degree from New York’s Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business (that’s the largest business school in the U.S.). Peter decided to do his own thing and create Ripe Juice Bar & Grill because he loves the idea of mixing business with pleasure. In addition to this passion, Peter likes exercise, the great outdoors, collecting artwork, mentoring young business upstarts, and reading up on the latest gadgets and gizmos.
ELIAS KALOGIROS
Elias Kalogiros is an experienced entrepreneur who thrives on starting new businesses and make them profitable. He’s always looking for new business opportunities, especially in the franchise marketplace. Ripe Juice Bar & Grill and EXO Cafe are just two of Elias’ business successes. Most recently he created the Freshark Juice Bar & Grill Franchise where he now focuses most of his attention.
Elias grew up in Queens and currently resides in Long Island with his wife and their three children. When he’s not happily working, Elias likes to read, snowboard, and spend quality time with his family.