New JoCo smoothie and juice cafe opens with a mission: Rescuing donkeys
Support rescue donkeys and sell protein-packed, organic smoothies?
There’s only one place in the metro that does both: Zen Donkey has long been a mobile juice stand around the metro, but it just opened a brick-and-mortar spot in Fairway.
Zen Donkey Wellness Cafe and Juicery is now open at 2812 W. 53rd St. Owner Kate Barker Sternberg said customers have been eager to try the cafe’s products since it opened a few weeks ago.
“I’m so excited to be here. It’s a great neighborhood,” Barker Sternberg said. “The community’s really shown up for us.”
A line of hungry (or perhaps, thirsty) patrons formed behind the checkout counter on Friday afternoon. Barker Sternberg said many of her longtime customers are happy to have a place to find their favorite products, as well as new ones. The fresh smoothies, not previously offered by Zen Donkey, have especially been a hit.
“We’ve been doing deliveries and farmers markets and pop-ups for eight years, so I think they’re just excited to pop in seven days a week and grab whatever they want,” she said.
An array of grab-and-go food options are also available: superfood salads, soba noodle bowls, chia cups, breakfast burritos and more.
Each of Zen Donkey’s products are made from ingredients that are grown on Barker Sternberg’s farm in Lone Jack, Missouri.
Zen Donkey’s for-profit side of the business (the juices, smoothies and more) fuel her non-profit donkey rescue, Zen Donkey Experience which also provides a therapeutic experience for people in need of mental health services, including kids with special needs.
Barker Sternberg and her husband, Andy Sternberg, have five donkeys and one horse at their Lone Jack farm.
Some of the most popular juices include Hot to Trot (pineapple, lime, green apple, jalapeño, cilantro), Jenny’s Julep (grapefruit, green apple, mint, Himalayan sea salt) and Donkey Dreams (carrot, pineapple, orange, turmeric, ginger and lemon).
Donkey skin (ejiao) is a popular ingredient in skincare, so Zen Donkey offers donkey-free beauty products in addition to its juices.
The cafe is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Next door, the former Houlihan’s space at 2820 W 53rd St. will soon be home to a new, upscale restaurant concept.
Restaurant group W. VinZant Restaurants is bringing the spot to life, though they’ve released little details about the menu and look of the space.
This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 5:30 AM.