Our bright and lively shop sits on scenic Mount Desert Island
HOME TO ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, IN THE CENTER OF BUSTLING DOWNTOWN BAR HARBOR.
Our story
Thrive is owned by three like-minded individuals, Jena Young, Jeff Young, and Megan Williams. All three are busy, hard-working Mount Desert Island residents who value a health-conscious lifestyle and the notion of eating well to feel your best. Jena, Jeff and Megan realized that both the health food and quick service markets were underserved in Bar Harbor and on Mount Desert Island. This realization, along with their shared passion for food and nutrition, sparked an interest in filling this gap.
Here at Thrive, we look forward to helping others begin and sustain their own path towards whole health. We believe healthy food has the power to change your life, and that it can be absolutely delicious.
Let us show you how.
“Thrive is a must stop while in Bar Harbor! I come back to Thrive year after year! They deliver in every possible way - from the food to the service to the overall ambiance. I have been really impressed with how well they adapted to COVID by keeping everyone safe, while still ensuring meals are prepared really quickly. There was a huge line of about 10 people when we went and we only had to wait about 5 minutes after we placed our order for our food to come out - super impressive! On top of everything else, the staff was extremely friendly and helpful!”
Meet our
ownership team
Megan
Megan is Thrive’s Chief Creative Officer and General Manager.
She is the engine and creative mind behind Thrive company culture and food. Megan is passionate about living and eating vibrantly and intentionally for a wholesome, joyful and active life. She has done a great deal of research and recipe development to create and sustain our diverse, ever-evolving, and well-balanced menu.
Megan runs all day-to-day operations and leads both our kitchen production and counter service teams. She brings over 10 years of experience in the restaurant and health food industries. The level of service she provides and her attention to detail are both unsurpassed. She infuses our team with positivity, a passion for continuous improvement, and a mindset centered around quality and efficiency.
Megan has a background in art and design from Rhode Island School of Design as well as a degree from College of the Atlantic. With her education and passion for design, Megan has led in the development of Thrive’s graphic brand identity. Incorporating her love for design with hospitality has been incredibly fulfilling. When Megan isn’t at the juice bar, you can find her training for her next marathon on the carriage trails in Acadia National Park.
Jena
Jena is Thrive’s business mind and marketing guru.
She brings over 15 years of restaurant management and hospitality experience to the Thrive team. She has a passion for leadership and personal development and has built Side Street Cafe (Thrive's neighbor!) with her husband Jeff for the past 11 years. Jena believes that all good teams begin with strong and caring leadership and she is committed to leading with positive solutions in all of her business roles.
Jena loves to exercise and eat well, but she also enjoys the socialization and convenience of eating out. While there are a few options for healthy and nutritious meals in local restaurants, she felt that food for health conscious and busy people was lacking in Bar Harbor. When you don’t see Jena at the restaurants, you can find her playing with her daughters, exploring Acadia and relaxing "Upta Camp.”
Jeff
Jeff is Thrive’s do-er: When something needs to be fixed, built, designed or taste tested, he is the man for the job.
He is also the only man in the partnership, which means that he can offer a male perspective when we are determining what our diverse customer base may be looking for.
Jeff is the only partner who was raised on MDI. He grew up in Hall Quarry (near Southwest Harbor) and after attending college in other areas of Maine, he returned home to start his building business and family. After spending 20 years solely in the building business, Jeff was ready for a change. He and Jena opened Side Street Cafe in 2009 and the restaurant business has offered him just the variety he was looking for. He is still a full-time General Contractor while helping to maintain and grow both Side Street and Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen.