HEAL Wellness Opens First U.S. Shop in Lubbock
The Canadian smoothie franchise debuted its first American location on University Avenue.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Openings & Closings
Live Poll
Would you choose a specialty smoothie or health bowl as a regular part of your diet?
HEAL Wellness has officially launched its first U.S. location at 1113 University Ave in Lubbock. The restaurant features a menu of smoothies, bowls, and coffee alongside a community room for events.
Why it matters
The owners brought the brand to Lubbock after identifying a local consumer shift toward healthy eating and easier diet maintenance. This opening serves as the initial footprint for a planned expansion of 25 to 30 locations across Texas within five years.
The new restaurant offers 14 smoothie booster options, 8 bowl varieties, and 6 distinct toppings. This location marks the first U.S. expansion for the Canadian brand, which currently operates 50 stores internationally.
The players
Paul Fioroni
He is a former professional ice hockey player for the Lubbock Cotton Kings who has lived in the city for 25 years.
Kendall Howard
He is a business owner who currently manages a portfolio of 40 different businesses.
Happy Belly Food Group
This is the Toronto-based parent company that manages the concepts evaluated by the franchise owners.
The details
The facility includes a dedicated community space designed for wellness activities like yoga classes. Owners selected the concept after visiting Toronto to evaluate various business models under the Happy Belly Food Group.
Timeline
HEAL Wellness launched its first shop in Hamilton, Ontario, in 2019.
The Lubbock location officially opened its doors in October 2026.
A second Lubbock location is scheduled to open by the end of 2026.
Market Landscape
This opening represents a strategic entry into the competitive health-food sector by leveraging the established brand identity of a Canadian franchise. It positions the owners to capture regional market share as they attempt to scale the model across the Texas landscape.
Local residents now have access to a new menu featuring bowls, smoothies, and protein balls at the University Avenue location. The addition of an on-site community room also provides a new venue for local health-focused events like yoga classes.
The takeaway
The successful grand opening suggests significant local appetite for health-conscious food concepts. Residents looking to incorporate more structured nutrition into their daily routines now have a specialized venue to support those diet goals.
What happens next
A second Lubbock branch is slated to open on 114th Street by the end of 2026.
Further reading
For more information on new business developments in the area, check out the Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
Live Poll
Would you choose a specialty smoothie or health bowl as a regular part of your diet?
