Michele Wardius and her family have always followed a healthy lifestyle, so when she found a franchise opportunity to share delicious and nutritious food and drinks with others, she took it. Toastique, a gourmet toast & juice bar, opened in Chatham last June.
Her daughter, Macey, manages the business on a day-to-day basis. “There’s always something to do and each day brings something new,” says Macey. “It’s fun seeing the progress our employees make and how excited they get when they make a pretty toast or latte.”
Some of the most popular toasts are the Avocado Smash and the Tomato Buratta. The Green Machine smoothie is always a hit, and the Metabolize, a cold-pressed juice, is often requested. High-quality coffees are also served.
For the fall, Toastique will have some seasonal offerings including a juice, oatmeal bowl, soup and an October toast of the month. “Soups are made fresh in house and will switch from day to day throughout the colder months,” says Macey.
Michele and Macey live in Madison and love running a business in Chatham. “We try to get many of our ingredients from local growers,” says Michele. “We do our best to stay organic as much as possible, and we can accommodate vegans, those with nut allergies and other dietary needs or preferences. It’s a quick and healthy option for many people.” Customers often comment that they can taste the fresh ingredients in every bite.
In addition to Michele and Macey, Michele’s son, Robbi, helps out when he’s home from college, and her eldest daughter, Mariah, handles most of the social media and emails. It’s been such a great experience that Michele would like to open two more Toastique locations so when her grandchildren get a little older, they can become involved in the family business as well.
“The feedback we get is so positive and a lot of people actually take the time to tell us that they’re really happy we're here,” says Michele. “We're very thankful.”
Adds Macey, “I love the customer relationships we’ve developed and seeing our regulars day in and day out as well as newcomers coming up to us amazed after having their first Toastique experience. It really is a place that leaves you feeling good and energized and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
To see the entire menu and try these healthy and delicious food items and beverages for yourself, go to Toastique.com/Chatham.
“We do our best to stay organic as much as possible.”