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The most intimidating bar in Seattle doesn’t sell alcohol

 

This story originally aired on April 21, 2018.    

The most intimidating bar to walk into in Greater Seattle may not be a seedy dive downtown. It might just be a juice bar in an obscure strip mall in Shoreline. What makes Alive Juice Bar so daunting is its owner, Andrew Ho, who’s just as likely to curse out and humiliate his customers as he is to soothe their ailments with foamy fruit & veggie concoctions.

Ho opened the shop eight years ago with his ex-fiance. In the beginning, it was tough.

 

It was in the middle of a recession, they had $300 in the till, a nearly broken refrigerator, no store name, and even though the shop was tucked conveniently next door to a 24-hour gym, it was out of sight of most car and foot traffic. But he hasn’t been forgotten. Being rude has been a success.

 

Sound Effect contributor Brie Ripley has been a customer, an employee, and a student of Ho's unusual philosophy on customer service.