Entreprenuer brings smoothie bowls to South Whidbey

Taylor Moore wants her own business to be a place where people can “rehabilitate themselves.”

By Karina Andrew • July 2, 2021 1:30 am

A 20-year-old entrepreneur is singlehandedly introducing South Whidbey to a healthy and trendy summer treat.

Taylor Moore used to make herself a smoothie for breakfast almost every morning. When she was introduced to the concept of smoothie bowls through a YouTube video, she became hooked by the idea.

Smoothie bowls combine the traditional blended fruit drink with fun toppings like granola, coconut chips and almond butter.

Moore practiced making the bowls for over a month to develop a recipe with the perfect consistency and flavor. When she finally got it down, she started selling her bowls at the South Whidbey Tilth farmers market late in the summer of 2020, which she said was a huge success.

After the market season, Pickles Deli owner Kim Bailey offered Moore some space in her kitchen at Ken’s Korner Market in Clinton.

Moore said since moving into the location, her smoothie bowl business, Southend Blends, has been “thriving.”

“It really opened up the opportunity to have a lot more foot traffic,” she said.

Moore has lived on Whidbey Island since she was two years old. She graduated from South Whidbey High School in 2019 and from Edmonds College in 2020 with an associate degree in business.

She was exposed to the restaurant business at a young age through her mother, who owned the Langley Village Bakery from 2007 to 2013.

“That was just a giant influence for me, to see that my mom can do that, so there’s no reason I can’t do it,” she said.

Moore wants her own business to be a place where people can “rehabilitate themselves,” a fast and healthy option for people trying to eat fresh. She doesn’t add any extra sugar or preservatives into her smoothies, and she uses a lot of organic ingredients. At Southend Blends, she said, “you’re just getting the fruit.”

Eventually, Moore would like to expand her business to create “an all-in-one facility where people could exercise, nourish their bodies with good food, and also have access to mental health practices through a relaxation/yoga/meditation area,” she wrote in an email to The Record.

Though she plans to hire some employees later this summer, she is currently operating her business completely by herself, which she said has both perks and drawbacks. On the one hand, she has no one but herself to rely upon when making business decisions.

“The perk of course is getting to perfect every bowl that leaves the kitchen, and being able to personally thank every person who loves and supports what I do,” she said.

Moore said all of her business ideas and endeavors are based upon wanting to add joy and value to people’s lives.

Southend Blends is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Smoothies can be ordered online at south endblends.com or over the phone at 425-393-8280, and picked up outside of Pickles Deli in Clinton.