Rutabaga Juicery & Eats

Rutabaga Juicery & Eats was formed out of the notion that whole, minimally processed food doesn’t have to be inconvenient or hard to come by. Stacey & Jim Heywood, while living in South Australia, were inspired by how life was formed around the Adelaide Central Market. As the heartbeat of the city’s central business district, the market shared a building with the largest grocery store chain in the nation. Yet despite, the local purveyors didn’t just thrive, they were engrained in the Adelaidean’s daily life. Grabbing a meal made from local, fresh ingredients was available from not one, but many stalls nearly every day of the week. When one talked about healthy eating amongst friends, ‘access’ was rarely a topic because it existed on such a widespread scale. This was a harsh contrast to Stacey’s hometown in Maryland. Upon the couple’s unplanned relocation back to Annapolis in July 2014, It wasn’t long before they felt the void of access. Swallowed by fast food chains and unhealthy grab-and-go options in convenience and grocery stores, it became a daily struggle to make smart choices that were both convenient and delicious. By 2015, Rutabaga was born within 400 square feet on a then-sleepy corner in West Annapolis. In 2018, we added Crofton as a second location and in 2020, our Annapolis location was moved to include a drive thru. We continue to strive to push the envelope in finding creative and innovative ways to make whole, plant-based food universally delicious and as accessible as our fast-food competitors. With over 50 full and part time team members, we are thrilled to be part of a thriving community and providing this necessary resource.