Noah’s Juice: Soups and Smoothies In A Small Space

Luther Williams, owner of on Washington Avenue between St. Johns Place and Sterling Place, has run businesses in Park Slope and Prospect Heights for nearly 20 years. When he heard about plans for the , he started to wonder what he could bring to the Atlantic Avenue end of Washington.

The result is Noah’s Juice, a small juice and coffee shop on Washington Avenue between Dean Street and Pacific Street. The shop serves fresh natural juices in combinations like Carrot/Apple/Ginger, as well as make-your-own smoothies and a full range coffee and espresso drinks. If you need a bite to eat with your beverage, pick up a bagel, pastry, wrap, or salad.

Williams is most excited about their homemade soups.

“Today we have a freshly made lentil soup and we have chicken noodle soup, all homemade. That’s what we have today—tomorrow it may be something different. We’re trying to experiment to see what the public really likes. Whatever soups they’re demanding will be the ones that we’ll stay with,” said Williams.

Noah’s Juice is named for Williams’ daughter Noah, but it could also be a warning for how you need to enter the shop: two by two. There’s just enough space for two people at a time to stand at the counter, and there’s definitely no room to sit down. But Noah’s Juice is doing a lot with their small space, and it’s warmed by the sunny smile of Williams’s son Shane (Cafe Shane is his namesake) who is often behind the counter.

The shop has been open for about three months, and Williams and his crew are in the process of figuring out the best way to serve the neighborhood. They are adjusting their hours (these days they’re mostly open 8am to 6pm) and figuring out what Prospect Heights residents want on the menu.

“Right now I’m sort of experimenting with different bakeries,” said Williams. “I’m trying one out for now, to see how people respond. And if they don’t respond, I’ve got a whole list of other people to try, so hopefully I’ll find someone that the people around here like and I’ll carry their product.”

Williams has seen a lot of change in the neighborhood in his time as a business owner. He owned a health club on Flatbush Avenue that is now the site of Crunch Fitness, and when he opened Cafe Shane in 2004, it was one of the only restaurants for blocks around.

“Us and Tom’s Diner. We were the only ones here. Thank God there’s a lot of other people who decided to come on board as well. That’s a good thing,” Williams said.

Williams clearly believes in the neighborhood: in addition to opening Noah’s Juice, he’s just finishing Cafe Shane’s expansion into the space next door.

Now he’s hoping the neighborhood will believe in Noah’s Juice.

“We’re hoping that the community will accept us, hoping that they’ll come down and support the business,” said Williams. “Try us out! I’m sure they will enjoy us, and hopefully they’ll come back and help us stay open.”

Noah’s Juice, 595 Washington Ave. between Dean and Pacific
(718) 622-0075. Hours still changing, but generally 8am-6pm.