An image of Organic Krush at UR when it first opened in early 2021. The university has another concept in the works to take over the cafe’s space. (BizSense file)
A health-minded restaurant chain founded by a University of Richmond alumnae has closed its on-campus location after about three years of operation.
Organic Krush shuttered at UR at the end of the spring semester, university spokeswoman Sunni Brown confirmed last week.
The exit appeared to mark the end of the brand’s presence in Virginia. Its UR cafe was the company’s last remaining restaurant in the state after it closed its Short Pump location at 3406 Pump Road last year.
The Organic Krush at UR was owned and operated by the university, as is the case with other retail eateries on campus, and the school has already teed up a concept to take its spot in the Well-Being Center.
A new cafe called FlavUR (pronounced “flavor”), will serve a similar menu and is anticipated to open in the space in August.
“FlavUR will feature a fresh, healthy, affordable menu of signature bowls, wraps, smoothies, and breakfast items available all day. Guests can look forward to scratch-made meals using halal proteins and customizable options,” read a description of the concept on the university’s website.
The Well-Being Center is a relatively new 36,000-square-foot student health-and-wellness center on campus. The Organic Krush outpost opened there in January 2021 as a complement to the facility’s salt spa, medical clinic and other facilities at the center that opened the same month.
Organic Krush was founded in New York in 2015 by UR alum Michelle Walrath, who didn’t respond to emails seeking comment for this article.
The chain continues to operate six locations, all of them in its home state of New York, according to the company’s website. It also formerly had a location in Charlottesville. The restaurants serve organic, dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan dishes. Menu items include smoothies, salads, wraps, baked goods, soups and acai bowls.
As for Organic Krush’s former Short Pump space, it was taken over in recent months by Tava Cuisine of India.
They are only located on Long Island now with 6 locations; I wonder why they never caught on outside of their home base but I can image $13 breakfast burritos and $10 orange crush smoothies were a little much for RVA residents.
Smoothies served in cups the size of your standard free water cup probably has something to do with it. Went there once to try a smoothie, left feeling scammed when I got it.