On July 29, 2022, the Marion community welcomed Encouraging Nutrition with open arms. Encouraging Nutrition is the brainchild of Melissa Bolding and Heather Thurber, also the co- owners of the long-standing Print Shop just next door. This mother/daughter combo are both born and raised in Marion. They have an overwhelming passion for their community and have been discussing for many years now about what else they could bring to Marion that would have a positive impact on their community. They both envisioned an establishment that gave citizens the opportunity to gather and have some sort of refreshments.
During this past year, Melissa and Heather became frequent visitors of the nutrition shops opened in Greensboro, Brent, and Tuscaloosa. All these shops gave off positive vibes and provided healthy drinks that gave them the energy needed for their busy lives. Why couldn’t Marion have such a nutrition shop like these surrounding areas? Before they knew it, God opened that door by the building next to the Print Shop coming available. After much prayer and thought, they decided to take the leap of faith to bring a nutrition shop to Marion. In just under two months, with the help of family and Thurber Building and Grounds, the once Neely Theater turned Old Theater Cafe´ was successfully renovated into Encouraging Nutrition.
Encouraging Nutrition offers loaded teas packed full of vitamins, supplements, and caffeine to provide its customers with the needed energy to get through the day. It also offers meal replacement shakes for those needing a quick meal on the go or are looking for a healthy meal substitute. It offers a bright, welcoming environment for all those looking for a place to come and hangout. For those with a competitive nature, a foosball table can be found at Encouraging Nutrition. Above all else, the owners of Encouraging Nutrition strive to base all it does on their motto that can be found hanging on their wall. That motto comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.”
