Healeo: Making Capitol Hill healthier even without organic coconuts

Justin Brotman

Last Friday Healeo Nutrition Bar opened its doors at 15th and Madison. CHS called owner Justin Brotman the 'Costco hippie of Capitol Hill' because of his father's ties to the retailing giant. To see what the buzz was about, I stopped in to check it out. I talked with Brotman about his new business, what makes Healeo unique and the challenge of finding organic coconuts. Have you been to Healeo yet? Add your thoughts to the CHS Reviews Healeo page.

Q: What is Healeo all about?

A: We serve food that's good for you. Organic drinks, organic teas, organic coffees, organic juices, and most importantly, superfoods.

Q: What are superfoods?

A: Foods which are extremely nutritious for you. Such as; hemp milk, coconut milk, almond milk (all of which we make fresh daily), bee pollen, kahle, flax, goji berries, acai - basically anything that is high in antioxidants. It's all about the ingredients. We want to make healthy eating easy for you to get and afford. Organic foods need to be in more demand; therefore it will be easier for you to access and live a healthier lifestyle.

Q: Is there anything different Healeo has to offer than other organic food stores or supplement stores?

A: We sell certified organic products made only for Healeo. Having our own supplemental section in our store providing you with all the nutrients you need in pill form. Lots of people question supplements, but the truth is, they are just as healthy for you as any organic food - it is just easier to put into your system. Our supplements are all organic. Also, we have a display of all of our teas so you can interact, smell and see exactly the tea you may want to drink. No other tea stores have this, which makes Healeo different. CHS note: After this interview was posted, Justin Brotman left a comment clarifying his statement about supplements: "What I said was that NOTHING can replace whole foods but it is not practical to eat 10 heads of Kale everyday so you should take supplements."

Q: What do i need to know about Healeo before I come in?

A: Healeo is all about the organics, plain and simple. We sell raw and vegan food as well, but that's not our focus. Not all people eat vegan, so we sell non-vegan items as well. Basically, we want to spread the essentials. Our #1 priority is to keep everything at Healeo organic. The only things in our store that aren't organic are bee-pollen and coconuts - they are just too hard to find completely organic. By keeping our store almost fully organic, we are providing you with food which helps your body absorb nutrients and become healthier.