New nutrition bar west of the Narrows has protein shakes and snacks like Grand Nutrition

A new nutrition bar is coming to the Key Peninsula with a similar theme to Grand Nutrition in Gig Harbor.

A former gift shop, Cozy Country Keepsakes, will soon turn into Serve Nutrition at 8912 Key Peninsula Highway NW.

On May 31, Elli (30) and Blake Lechner (32) singed a year lease for the spot at Key Center. With the option to renew in the future, the Lechners have every intention of being there a lot longer than a year, Elli Lechner told the Gateway.

Serve Nutrition will be part of the Pacific Northwest Nutrition Concepts mentor group created by the owners of Grand Nutrition.

Serve Nutrition will also mimic Grand Nutrition’s menu and is expected to open in about a month, according to Elli Lechner.

The menu offers teas, smoothies, shakes, energy drinks, acai bowls, protein oatmeal and snacks.

Grand Nutrition is known for their tea bombs, protein shakes and gluten free donuts. Visitors will find those items at Serve Nutrition.

Elli Lechner has been in the health and fitness industry for many years and formerly owned a nutrition bar in Arizona.

“I absolutely love helping people with health and nutrition, simply because at one point in my life I really struggled with my health and I was overweight,” Elli Lechner said.

She said at one point she connected with someone who taught her about good nutrition and an active lifestyle. The help she received inspired her to have a career helping others, which led her to the fire service.

Blake Lechner is a military veteran and now works with law enforcement.

“We both have to stay healthy for our jobs and we love promoting health and fitness to those around us,” Elli Lechner said.

About Grand Nutrition

Brian and Cari Treat own Grand Nutrition at 5247 Olympic Dr.

The Fox Island couple have been in the nutrition industry for over 11 years.

Together they share a passion for healthier habits and spread their knowledge with family and friends over the years.

Ultimately they decided to turn their passion into a business by creating PNW Nutrition Concepts, a group that mentors and helps owners opening nutrition bars.

The Treats have helped open over 40 nutrition bars throughout Washington, California, Idaho, Arizona, Florida, and soon Utah and Montana.

Elli Lechner and Cari Treat previously competed in body building competitions together in Arizona.

The Treats moved to Fox Island in 2018 and shortly after they opened Grand Nutrition.

Without knowing the Treats had also moved to the area, the Lechners moved to Gig Harbor in 2021, then Key Peninsula in 2022.

Being in the same area again led the Treats and Lechners to reconnect.

“We started hanging out more and dreaming of how we could work together and help the community at a higher level,” Elli Lechner said.

PNW Nutrition Concepts is not a franchise model, but it’s similar. The Treats receive royalties from product sales from each PNW Nutrition Concepts location.

“People can open up locations and have the assistance and support like a franchise without having to pay the price of one,” Brian Treat said.

The Treats give owners direction such as what square footage to look for in a location and where to get sinks and ice machines, he said.

Each PNW Nutrition Concepts location encourages the 80% nutrition and 20% fitness lifestyle.

“The 80/20 lifestyle simply means we encourage that each person should put about 80% of their focus into their nutrition,” Brian Treat said. “Many people work out hard and that’s their priority but they put minimal effort into nutrition and nutrient timing. We are big on nutrient timing — what to feed your body, when and why.”

Some nutrition bars use whey-based protein in their shakes.

Whey-based shakes typically include lactose and gluten, which isn’t an option for some customers, Brian Treat said.

PNW Nutrition Concept locations offer plant based and gluten free protein, such as soy isolate and a rice, pea, and quinoa blend. An organic vegan line will be added in July.

“When you’re going to have a meal, there’s a lot of vitamins and minerals that your body really needs,” Treat said.

Every protein shake at PNW Nutrition Concept locations can be a meal replacement due to the fact that they all have 21 essential vitamins and nutrients, he said, including calcium, iron and magnesium.

Shake options range from 200-250 calories each, with 24 grams of protein or more.

All shakes with PNW Nutrition Concept locations are Heart-Check certified by the American Heart Association as low calorie, high nutrient, high protein, full meal replacement options, Treat said.