This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

a Black-owned juice bar and healthy cafe at 3000 Troost Ave in KCMO, founded in 2015 by born-and-raised Kansas Citian Chris Goode in memory of his grandmother Ruby Jean (lost to diet-related disease). Tier 1 — owner-operated, deeply KC-rooted, with a civic health mission anchored to the Troost corridor.

Description

Ruby Jean’s Juicery (operating as Ruby Jean’s Kitchen & Juicery at its flagship) is a Black-owned juice bar and healthy cafe whose main store and kitchen sit at 3000 Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri.12 The menu centers on handcrafted and cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and performance protein shakes (roughly $2–$12), plus wellness shots such as apple cider vinegar and immunity ginger.3 Beyond beverages, the kitchen serves wholesome breakfast (omelets, French toast, breakfast burritos), lunch bowls with proteins like salmon and chicken, salads, and sandwiches — and notes that “any item on our menu can be made vegan.”3 Signature items include the acai bowl and customizable power bowls with housemade sauces.3

The business operates two Kansas City storefronts: the Troost flagship and a juice stand inside the Whole Foods Market at 301 E 51st Street near 51st and Brookside Boulevard, which opened in August 2019.45 Beyond its cafes, Ruby Jean’s cold-pressed bottled juice line has expanded into a nationwide retail footprint, reaching more than 100 Whole Foods Market locations.67

The flagship keeps daily hours and remains in active operation: Yelp shows the Troost location updated with current reviews as of May 2026, and Axios Kansas City profiled the business as an ongoing operation in February 2026.18 Recent posted hours run roughly Monday–Friday 8am–4pm, Saturday 9am–3pm, and Sunday 10am–3pm at Troost.3

Ownership and history

Ruby Jean’s Juicery was founded by Chris Goode, a Kansas City native, and named for his grandmother Ruby Jean, who helped raise him and his siblings.69 Ruby Jean died in 1999 at age 61 after battling Type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, and high blood pressure — health struggles the family attributes largely to diet.97 Goode has said he founded the company in the conviction that his grandmother might still be alive had she had access to healthier choices, building the brand to honor her memory and to bring wellness to neighborhoods affected by diet-related disease.9

After her death, Goode worked for years as a traveling catastrophe insurance adjuster. While on the road he watched the documentary Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, completed a multi-day juice cleanse, and resolved to change course; he left a six-figure career, took on debt, and drew from savings to launch the business.7 Ruby Jean’s opened its first location in 2015, with the Troost flagship store and kitchen establishing the brand’s home on the corridor.410 In 2019 Goode opened the second location inside the 51st Street Whole Foods, and the wholesale juice line subsequently scaled into Whole Foods stores nationwide.46

Goode is a notable Kansas City civic figure. He authored a children’s book, Ruby Jean’s Garden, honoring his grandmother, and in recent years opened Ruby Jean’s Garden, an acre community garden on the city’s east side where residents can harvest produce in exchange for volunteer work (expected fully functional by spring 2026).11 He has spoken publicly on his work, including a CreativeMornings/KC talk, and has served on the board of Operation Breakthrough.1213

Sources

Disputes

(None active.)

Footnotes

  1. Yelp — https://www.yelp.com/biz/ruby-jeans-kitchen-and-juicery-kansas-city — asserts: Ruby Jean’s Kitchen & Juicery, 3000 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO; juice bar/smoothies; updated May 2026 with current reviews (open status). ↩ ↩2

  2. Ruby Jean’s Juicery official site — https://www.rubyjeansjuicery.com/ — asserts: cold-pressed juice, smoothies, vegan cafe brand; KC home. ↩

  3. Ruby Jean’s Juicery — Troost page — https://www.rubyjeansjuicery.com/troost — asserts: 3000 Troost Ave KCMO 64109; hours; menu (juices, smoothies, shots, bowls, breakfast/lunch); “any item can be made vegan”; price ranges; phone (816) 321-1440. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  4. Startland News — https://www.startlandnews.com/2019/07/ruby-jeans-whole-foods/ — asserts: first location opened 2015; Whole Foods location at 51st & Brookside Blvd expected to open Aug. 17, 2019. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. Ruby Jean’s Juicery — Whole Foods page — https://www.rubyjeansjuicery.com/whole-foods — asserts: stand at 301 E 51st Street, KCMO 64112, inside Whole Foods near produce; hours. ↩

  6. AfroTech — https://afrotech.com/ruby-jeans-juicery-inception — asserts: Chris Goode, KC native; brand inspired by grandmother Ruby Jean; expansion into 100+ Whole Foods locations. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  7. Essence — https://www.essence.com/news/money-career/chris-goode-health-juice-ruby-jeans-whole-foods/ — asserts: Ruby Jean died at 61 of Type 2 diabetes/kidney disease/high blood pressure; Goode’s insurance-adjuster background, cleanse, and risk to launch; Whole Foods attention. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  8. Axios Kansas City — https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/02/18/ruby-jeans-juicery-north-star-longevity-troost-kc — asserts: Feb. 18, 2026 profile of operating business; longevity “north star,” Troost. ↩

  9. Ruby Jean’s Juicery — Our Story — https://www.rubyjeansjuicery.com/our-story — asserts: grandmother Ruby Jean died July 28, 1999 at 61 of type 2 diabetes/kidney disease/high blood pressure; mission to honor her and promote wellness; founder’s cleanse origin. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  10. Kansas City Magazine — https://kansascitymag.com/from-community-gardens-to-childrens-books-chris-goode-of-ruby-jeans-juicery-is-helping-his-community-put-health-first/ — asserts: Goode authored a children’s book honoring Ruby Jean; opened east-side community garden; expansion to 100+ Whole Foods and CPKC stadium; grandmother died 1999. ↩

  11. Startland News — https://startlandnews.com/2025/03/ruby-jeans-garden/ — asserts: Ruby Jean’s Garden, east-side community garden; namesake legacy; brand going national with Whole Foods. ↩

  12. CreativeMornings/KC — https://creativemornings.com/talks/chris-goode — asserts: Chris Goode public talk (“Depth”), KC. ↩

  13. Startland News — https://www.startlandnews.com/2024/08/chris-goode-wepower/ — asserts: Goode as entrepreneur-in-residence at STL accelerator; founded company 2015 to honor grandmother; Operation Breakthrough board. ↩

See also

  • Registry
  • Owner-And-History-Research-Toolchain
Categories
  • Locally owned
  • Juice Bar
  • Troost