Feeling good
Innovative West Austin wellness center debuts with gluten-free cafe
An ambitious new business in Bee Cave is redefining what a wellness center can be by integrating a dizzying array of services for the mind and body — including a gluten-free cafe — under one roof.
Founded by pharmacist Adam Metcalf, the owner of Drip Drip IV Vitamin Bar and Hill Country Apothecary, Alive + Well quietly opened April 16 with a mission to provide comprehensive care. Among the services offered are massage therapy, acupuncture, guided meditation classes, and ionic foot baths, according to a release.
The interior, designed by Matt Fajkus Architecture, provides a peaceful retreat, complete with an indoor garden and outposts of Metcalf's two other businesses. The apothecary offers both conventional medications and supplements, as well as wellness consultations with a nutritonist and dietician, both of whom are on staff. It is also a compounding pharmacy, allowing pharmacists to work with practioners to customize dosages and eliminate allergans.
“In a world where people have to travel to see multiple, disparate health practitioners and then receive disconnected treatment approaches, Alive + Well is focused on restoring and preserving health by streamlining treatment and delivering long-term solutions that address our guests’ unique health and wellness concerns,” said Metcalf in a release.
In addition to the wellness services, Alive + Well has an onsite restaurant, Elle’s Cafe & Coffee, serving only gluten-free fare. The menu was developed by Andrew Wiseheart and PJ Edwards of EdgeWise hospitality group — the owners of Chicon and Contigo — in collaboration with head chef Shandon Brockett.
But don’t expect anything as heavy as Contigo’s ranch-inspired menu. Serving breakfast and lunch, the restaurant offers simple breakfasts like sweet potato hash and avocado toast and a lunch menu featuring various composed salads and grain bowls. There is also a grab-and-go cold case offering snacks like a charred kale dip with garlic puree and Parmesan or spring rolls with snow peas, celery root, kohlrabi, apple, and black sesame yogurt.
Alive + Well will be celebrating its grand opening on June 22 with a day of complimentary yoga and discounts on sauna, ionic foot bath, and float tank sessions, as well as $99 IV drips.