SunLife Organics, a health-oriented foods and merchandise company founded by a man who previously lived on Skid Row, has opened a new location in Brentwood at 13050 San Vincente Boulevard. This marks the 21st brick and mortar outlet of the franchise, which in addition to its 12 stores in California also maintains retail spaces in New York, Florida, Colorado, Texas, Tennessee, Nevada, and Illinois.
Before he started working with his business partner Hayley Gorcery, owner Khalil Rafati kicked his drug addiction by eating superfoods and drinking organic juices. The corresponding dramatic improvement in the quality of his life led him to travel around the world seeking out additional healthful practices and products. Eight years after leaving Skid Row, Rafati opened the first SunLife Organics in Malibu in 2011 in order to provide people with “organic juices, organic smoothies, organic salads, organic everything really.”
The franchise is not only imbued with a sense of wellness and positivity, but in the case of the new Brentwood location, also offers indoor and outdoor seating, built-in display cases lined with products, a wall-mounted surfboard, and a sizable amethyst geode. In addition to freshly squeezed juices and smoothies, the store offers customers the chance to purchase customized snacks such as organic vegan protein powder, tins of ceremonial-grade matcha, and a gluten-free Wolverine Cookie.
The incredibly successful company, which has been profiled in The New York Times, is now located within easy walking distance of the famed Brentwood Country Mart, which includes local favorites Goop (originated by Gwenyth Paltrow) and the Diesel bookstore.
