Food, vitamins, more at Health Tree

By RYAN CHADDICK
Valley Press Correspondent

The center, which opened July 7, is the result of efforts of four local men.

"When we grew up here in the Antelope Valley, there just weren't too many places you could go to just hang out," said Al Sanchez, 33, one of four owners of the Health Tree. "We're four brothers - or two sets of brothers - who grew up together here and now own our own restaurant. This is a childhood dream."

What began a year ago as a small vitamin shop in Lancaster has expanded to a restaurant-café-lounge-vitamin shop-shoe shop and more.

"A year ago I started the vitamin shop next door to my brother's (Rod Sanchez) chiropractic facility," Sanchez said. "That's where the name comes from; his place is called Health Tree. Then, earlier this year we got the opportunity to move into this place and we all sort of took this giant leap of faith."

With help from friends Mark and Todd Coleman, Al and Rod Sanchez began creating the Health Tree early in the spring.

"This place became available in, I'd say, late March, and everyone, literally everyone, has played a huge role in getting it started" Sanchez said. "My wife Alison has been awesome. She is operating here in a manager role. We went to nutritional conventions; hired an excellent chef.

"I hadn't even tasted her food until the day before we opened. Amber's food is awesome. It was just another leap of faith."

Sanchez said he believes that chef Amber Freeland, 23, is making a name for herself with her unique menu and food options.

"What can I say? I designed the menu. I built it. I'm here, pretty modest," Freeland said, laughing. "I got a call and was asked if I was interested in helping establish a restaurant. I was traveling around with Club Med after I graduated from Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts, and this seemed like a really good change."

The extensive menu features chef's salads, Caesar salads, Cobb salads, mandarin salads, veggie choice salads, a variety of sandwiches and a kids' menu. Healthy fare is available for strict vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters.

"There are so many commercial restaurants and places here, but there really aren't too many healthy restaurants. We also have great smoothies. At one of those conventions, we found this "Dr. Smoothie" company. The smoothies are all-natural fruit, no added sugar or cornstarch, and we use everything including the peel," Sanchez said.

Sanchez has worked to create a refreshing atmosphere in the center.

"I want people to come in here and relax and just sort of forget they're in the high desert," Sanchez said. "That's why we have the large saltwater tank, the couches and the trees. I want this to be the kind of place you find in Santa Monica or Ventura."

The reaction has been excellent, Sanchez said.

"We've had lots of people come in and ask if we are a franchise," he said. "The support from this community has been outstanding. Of course, maybe in 10 years, we'd like to see this become a franchise. Maybe even all along the Western seaboard."

In the more immediate future, Sanchez said the goal is to improve customer service, begin a singer-songwriter evening and expand the vitamin shop area.

"The interest in the restaurant has been phenomenal, but we're hoping to also see an increase in the vitamin area. Hopefully, with the winter approaching, people will start thinking about taking vitamins and herbs to prevent getting sick. We have nutritional and herb specialists on hand."

Freeland said her goal is to create a place where people of all ages can just come and enjoy themselves.

"The thing I want is something I saw the other day," she said. "A couple of girls came in here, ordered food, played cards, studied, got advice on their eating habits. That's what I want. They were here for hours."

The Health Tree Wellness and Nutrition Center is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week at 2797 W. Ave L. The nutrition center is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the coffee shop is open from 6 a.m. until midnight. For details, call The Health Tree at (661) 722-1101.