Opening your own retail business involves financial risk, so most entrepreneurs devise a detailed business plan, including sales projections and costs, before launching. But not Ebony Louissant, who opened BonJi, Pelham’s only juice bar, last fall on the site formerly occupied by Sue’s Corner. Her business plan seems like a wing and a prayer, but she prefers to describe it in terms of energy and manifestation.
“I’m a magical person,” said Louissant with a beaming smile. “Everything comes from the mind first. Sue’s Corner was here for 50 years. On June 22, 2023, it was empty. I didn’t know how or why, but I just grabbed it without a plan.”
Louissant, who describes herself as a “holistic therapist,” did not rush into the business. It took her two full years, but last November, she opened up Bonji.
The roots of the name “Bonji” come from Haitian Creole, with “Bon” meaning good, and “-ji” meaning juice, translating to “good juice.”
Louissaint began her journey by selling homemade carrot juice from her car in Central Park. Now, she makes her juices, smoothies, and other nutritious foods accessible through her storefront on Fifth Avenue near Lincoln. She has also volunteered to pitch in at community events, like last month’s Color Run.
“I feel that anything healthy should be offered,” Louissaint said. “Healthy and holistic living is my lifestyle, and I wanted to share a little bit of my life with the Pelham community.”
The daughter of Haitian immigrants, Louissant grew up mostly in Harlem. She describes her mother as a “hustler,” who helped instill a great sense of self-confidence in her. “You can do anything you put your mind to,” Louissant recalls her mother telling her. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Louissant, who has a teenage daughter, has been living in Pelham for 14 years. She loves the pace of the town, especially compared to its neighbors. “Pelham matches my energy very well,” she said. “We’ve got a slower pace than Mt. Vernon or New Rochelle.”
“This is a safe, holistic healing space and is a place where people can prioritize themselves over societal pressures and expectations,” said Louissaint.
The menu options prioritize gut health, skin health, and nerve regulation using organic ingredients and produce. In the future, Louissaint plans to introduce a kids’ menu with the same high-quality ingredients.
“I want Pelham to know that I’m sharing some of my grandmother’s Haitian culture of caring for yourself, internally from the inside out,” said Louissaint. “You have to be genuine and compassionate and considerate to yourself before you can be that way for everyone else.”
