Gimme A Squeeze Juice Bar
176A Hampton Avenue
416-461-8168

Across the street from the behemoth of the Carrot Commons, down a side-street beyond the colourful shops on the Danforth, and marked only by a small sandwich board in front of a Second Cup coffee shop, lies Gimme A Squeeze. At first glance, this small bar may seem an odd choice of location, overshadowed by the plethora of food shops on the main street. However, a sign within gives a hint of this juicery’s staying power. “Ten years and counting!” is the happy proclamation.

Gilly, the owner, seems to match the sign with her own demeanour and decorating. Glass stars hang in the window and magnets with words like “hope” and “peace” line the counter. A greenhouse wraps around the front of the store, providing quiet and fresh air. Gilly herself chats with the customers while pulverizing apple slices or chopping ginger.

She tells me about how she originally opened Gimme A Squeeze at the advice of her sister. Ten years ago, her big sister looked up and down the area and declared it ripe for a juice bar placement. Gilly took this cue with confidence and now runs and owns the whole place. When I ask her about competition from the juice bar in the Carrot Commons, she says she was worried at first, but that the two stores simply fell into different realms. The Carrot’s juice bar is filled with those who come from the grocery store and those who can afford to pay for all-organic ingredients, while Gimme A Squeeze attracts random passers-by and regulars.

In addition, Gilly supplements the juices and smoothies with various knickknacks. She began with world music, but has since expanded into self-help books, meditation CDs, and those “gentle mockery of aspects of female stereotypes” cards. One shows two stick figures with locked arms, and reads “Ms. Hopeful Meets Mr. Potential.”

The juices themselves are really the main attraction. Just as Gilly is telling me of her most popular selection (aptly named “Gilly’s Juice”) two power-walkers with strollers come in and order it. I take a sample myself. It has a deep flavour which includes traces of apple, and it is filling enough that it takes a good twenty minutes to finish a medium.

My personal favourite is still the Ultimate Lemonade, which tastes kind of like lemonade and ginger ale mixed together, minus the carbonation. It is less filling than the Gilly’s Juice, but more refreshing. I also sample the Liver Tonic, which includes milk thistle extract for a dollar. Although I am not usually a fan of beets, which are a major constituent, I find this one just as appetizing as the Gilly’s Juice, and even more filling. There is also a collection of “make your own” fruit smoothies which include a wide variety of add-ons. The “protein” addition comes in whey, goat’s milk whey, soy protein, and hemp protein, and most of the other additions include at least 3 permutations as well.

Photo of Gilly courtesy the Gimme a Squeeze website.