From Healing to Juicing: How Rhonda Faison Turned Love Into a Business at Pike Place Market

Rhonda Faison didn’t plan to become a juice bar owner. In fact, she once dreamed of being a doctor. But life had other plans. After her brother became a quadriplegic, Rhonda—who had been working in emergency medicine—found herself questioning her career path. While caring for him, she started researching plant medicine as a way to help him feel better without the overload of prescriptions. That personal mission sparked something much bigger.

What started as juice recipes made with love and intention for her brother turned into something friends and family couldn’t get enough of. After his passing and a series of career pivots—including a stint at Tesla and a job at an architecture firm—Rhonda found herself laid off during the pandemic. So, she leaned into her juices. With a folding table and tent at Queen Anne's Farmers Market, Rhonda launched Rojo Juice. She sold out week after week.

In 2021, Rojo Juice secured a permanent home at Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Market. From there, Rhonda built more than a juice bar—she built a movement rooted in health, healing, and heritage. Her passion for ethnobotany, inspired by setting up medical clinics in Vietnam, guides every recipe. And each drink—whether it's the "Low Flow Glow," fresh-squeezed orange juice, or a seasonal cranberry rosemary blend—is packed with organic ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible.

For Rhonda, food really is medicine. It’s not just about what’s in the bottle, but the love behind it. She wants customers to sip and feel lighter, brighter, and more energized—like they’re drinking sunshine or a healthier version of grandma’s cooking. And with her non-alcoholic happy hour DJ series starting this summer, she’s making Rojo Juice a full-on vibe and a gathering place for the community.

Behind the scenes, Rhonda wears all the hats—owner, juice maker, delivery driver, and even unofficial therapist for her customers. It’s not easy, but it’s purpose-driven. She hopes when people come to Rojo Juice, they not only taste something good—they feel something good.

Rojo Juice
📍 1500B Pike Pl, Seattle, WA
🌐 rojojuice.com