Known for its delicious line of raw organic cold-pressed juices and unique mission of rescuing donkeys, Zen Donkey Farms is expanding. Locals will be able to purchase their favorite Zen Donkey products and more at its new wellness cafe, Zen Donkey Wellness Cafe and Juicery.
The cafe sits in the Fairway Shops in Fairway (2812 W 53rd St.). The grand opening for the cafe is August 7.
“We’ve been resisting this move for too many years and we’re finally just like ‘the community wants this. We need to do it,’” says Kate Barker, who owns Zen Donkey with her husband, Andy.
According to Kate, the Fairway space sat vacant for several years and before that was previously used by an architecture firm. It’s small, about 1,300 square feet, which is fine by Barker, since the cafe is “very much not a restaurant.”
“We’re very much a wellness cafe and will do grab-and-go stuff,” says Barker. “We’ll have some cozy corners and great places to connect, sit and enjoy but we’re definitely not a full-service restaurant.”
Zen Donkey juices will be available at the cafe, of course, along with their housemade sparkling waters, teas and other health-forward beverages like ceremonial-grade matcha and adrenal mocktails. But customers will also be able to grab a nourishing smoothie and nutritious food like a blueberry chia cup, superfood salad (like the fan favorite tart cherry pistachio salad) or vegan breakfast burrito made with scrambled tofu and Yoli tortillas. There will even be a healthy variation of a Lunchable for kids and a frozen section.
According to Barker, everything will be nutrient dense and 100% organic with no synthetics or preservatives.
A small retail section in the cafe will offer Zen Donkey’s line of skincare products as well as local and national brands that the Barkers are fans of.
“Basically all the nontoxic, wellness supporting things that we use in our household that are our favorites will be in our retail section,” says Barker.
Zen Donkey will continue its catering and delivery services around the KC metro, as well as popping up at the Overland Park, Brookside and Lee’s Summit farmers markets.
