By: Lucy Panicacci

Editor-in-Chief

On May 9, 2024, I went on a routine trip to Jamba Juice, hoping to grab a smoothie before going to the library to study for upcoming AP tests. However, when I arrived, somebody had taken down the sign and brown paper blocked the windows. On the door, the owners left a note announcing the permanent closure of this location. Shocked and saddened, I sent a photo to my family group chat, to which my dad replied, “No way. I don’t know what’s going on with this world.” Approved in 1996, the Los Gatos Jamba stood at 628 Blossom Hill Road for over 20 years before inexplicably shutting down. For the betterment of the community, we should bring this Jamba Juice location back. 

The location of the LG Jamba was conveniently placed; it was only a five minute drive from Los Gatos High School and a three minute drive from Fisher Middle School. This location made it easy to grab a smoothie after school, practice, or a game. The LG Jamba never failed to fill up around 3 PM, as middle schoolers made the short walk from Fisher. With its closure, the closest Jamba Juice is now a ten-minute drive away from the high school. Considering the price for a medium smoothie is 12 dollars, this longer distance becomes inconvenient and impractical due to the gas usage, making Starbucks or Sharetea a more convenient option.

Beyond its convenient location, many LGHS students miss the classic Jamba flavor. Senior Taryn Smith reasoned, “It just adds to the variety of that square. You got Starbucks, if you are feeling like Starbucks, but if you’re not, you can go to Jamba Juice, and for food, you’ve got Chipotle.” Smith added, “[The closest Jamba Juice] is right next to Crumbl Cookies and I feel tempted. I can’t feel tempted when I want to try to be healthy and have a smoothie.” Senior Annika Norquist also shared her love for the LG Jamba, stating, “The times when literally nothing else sounds good other than a fruit smoothie, that is when I need my Jamba Juice.” Norquist agrees that the nearest Jamba in Camden Park is too far. 

While I do wish for the return of the LG Jamba Juice, the numerous service concerns at the location cannot go unnoticed. The Yelp listing has two and a half stars, and most of the reviews within the last year were one star. The negative reviews complain of the long wait times and poor service from young employees. User Lalita D. gave a one star review, stating, “While waiting, one of the employees screamed bloody murder, and it turns out one of them accidentally cut their finger while making a wheatgrass shot, and started making fun of how there’d be blood in the next few orders.” While reviews like this cause concern for health and safety, better leadership and hiring processes could have helped mediate the poor service. It is unknown if the Jamba Juice closed due to health concerns. As of Dec. 7, 2023, the location passed a health inspection with a score of 93 and no major violations. 

A popular LG staple, Jamba Juice must be brought back. Jamba Juice not only creates a convenient location for healthy smoothies, but also provides a better variety of drink options as yet another boba place, Boba Guys, opened downtown. When I was a kid, I would always go to the LG Jamba after soccer games for a Strawberries Wild smoothie and Pirate’s Booty — a beloved tradition. As the same location I went to from elementary school through high school, the LG Jamba will not and should not be forgotten. 

(Sources: County of Santa Clara, Yelp)