Warner Robins
Laura Waters and Kent Jordan are the owners of the new Bonaire Nutrition in Warner Robins.
Supplied by Herbalife, the new spot specializes in loaded teas, meal replacement shakes, protein coffees, hydration and boost drinks, wellness shots and energy shots, pre-workout jello shots, kids drinks, protein balls and more.
The couple, who met on the Bumble dating app in July 2022 and are engaged, opened their business April 9 at 840 Ga. 96, Suite 2300, in the Century Market Plaza near The Peach Cobbler Factory. Their grand opening and ribbon cutting is May 12.
“We have completely different personalities,” Jordan said. “She is just like a big bundle of energy, and then I’m just very laid back. But I think that’s why it works.”
Bonaire Nutrition owners Kent Jordan and Laura Waters pose with their dog Daffy inside of their store in Warner Robins, Georgia. The new shop specializes in dietary-supplement drinks, including loaded teas, protein coffees and meal replacement shakes. Katie Tucker The Telegraph
Jordan, a Warner Robins native, is the market president for Planters First Bank on South Houston Lake Road in Warner Robins. Waters, who now lives in Warner Robins, previously owned pet boarding and grooming businesses in Hazlehurst and Fort Lauderdale.
Waters, a health enthusiast who’s the face of the business, manages the day-to-day operations. Jordan handles the financial side. They have a manager and four part-time employees.
Waters got interested in opening the dietary-supplement business based on the success of her friend’s Daily Dose Nutrition in Douglas.
Customer Brittany Allen of Kathleen pets Daffy, the dog of Bonaire Nutrition co-owner Laura Waters inside Bonaire Nutrition in Warner Robins. Waters certified Daffy as an emotional support dog, who has her own bed in Bonaire Nutrition and greets guests. Katie Tucker The Telegraph Come inside to a cozy space at Bonaire Nutrition
Step inside Bonaire Nutrition to a bright welcoming spot with comfortable chairs and colorful animal canvases on the walls such as a giraffe with glasses blowing pink bubble gum.
One of the canvases depicts the Thunderbirds in flight in honor of the U.S. Air Force with nearby Robins Air Force Base. Others offer words of encouragement such as, “Look ahead with a positive mind.”
“It’s the whole atmosphere,” said Waters, who did the interior decorating herself. “People come in here for the atmosphere, not just the drinks. It’s happy. It’s fun, but yet it’s warm and inviting.”
Fanciful canvasses of animals line the walls of Bonaire Nutrition in Warner Robins. Becky Purser The Telegraph
The space also has a special greeter, Daffy, a 9-year-old white doodle, who has her own space with a doggy bed in the shop. Daffy, who is Waters’ certified emotional support dog, loves kids and enjoys being petted by customers, Waters said.
“She is the sweetest dog in the world,” Jordan said. “The day after we opened, somebody called … They wanted to ask a question about one of the recipes.
“But she said, ‘I’ve got to be honest with you … Even if the drinks were terrible — and they’re not, we love them — but even if they were terrible, I’d come once a week to see her.’“
The banana caramel protein coffee from Bonaire Nutrition is one of the shop’s most popular menu items and features 24 grams of protein. Katie Tucker The Telegraph Have questions about what’s in the products at Bonaire Nutrition? Waters & her staff have answers.
At the L-shaped counter, customers will find a chalkboard with the special drink of the week, printed menus explaining what’s in the various drinks, a seasonal special drink menu, a list of add-ons like Vitamin C and collagen, dietary “fat blocker” packets, protein balls and a small refrigerator with wellness and energy shots and pre-workout jello shots.
Waters and her staff are happy to explain to customers what’s inside each drink and what it’s designed to do. All drinks can be customized.
Also, on the counter is a large spiral Product Details notebook of all the products used at Bonaire Nutrition with their ingredients and an explanation of what they’re designed to do.
The Pure Barre Babe “grand pour” from Bonaire Nutrition features supplements from the loaded, specialty and beauty drinks, including caffeine, protein, collagen and aloe. Katie Tucker The Telegraph
Additionally, customers are welcome to look at the actual containers of the supplements and read the ingredients for themselves, Waters said.
“It’s good product,” Waters said. “We do probiotics, fiber, hydration, mental clarity, healthy, gut health. Lots of Vitamins B, C, D — tons of vitamins and minerals in them.”
A drink on the menu that Waters created herself is the Pure Barre Babe, a nod to the nearby Pure Barre fitness studio where Waters works out. The loaded tea has cherry, pineapple and blue raspberry flavoring with 200 mg caffeine, aloe, Vitamins C, B6, B12, 6 carbs, 0 fat, 0 sugar and 0 protein at 15 calories, according to the product details notebook.
The most popular protein coffee drink is the banana caramel, Jordan said. Protein coffee drinks include 80 to 135 mg of caffeine, 190 calories, 17 carbs, 3.5 grams fat, 24 grams protein and 11 grams of sugar, according to the menu.
Bonaire Nutrition in the Century Market Plaza at 840 Ga. 96, Suite 2300, in Warner Robins. Katie Tucker The Telegraph Bonaire Nutrition had a steady stream of customers on a recent visit
Patricia Claxton of Warner Robins already has been to Bonaire Nutrition five times since it opened. She works out at the new Club Pilates Bonaire in the same shopping center.
“I go there, and then I come here afterward,” Claxton said. “I’ve tried a little bit of each one. I like how they have things specific for your GI system to help with digestion, and then I’ve had a few of the beauty drinks as well.”
The Knowles family, who own nearby Flooring Specialists, are frequent customers of Bonaire Nutrition.
“All the girls are so sweet,” Chrissy Knowles said of the store staff. “They make our day.”
Knowles and her daughter had four loaded teas in hand plus some protein balls as they made their way out the door after a recent visit.
“They make you feel good, and it builds you up,” Knowles said of the drinks. “Also, if you’re trying to slim down a little bit, it helps with that.”
Bonaire Nutrition is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The number is 478-225-7060.
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Becky covers new restaurants, businesses and developments with some general assignment reporting in Warner Robins and the rest of Houston County. She’s a career journalist with ties to Warner Robins. Her late father retired at Robins Air Force Base. She moved back to Warner Robins in 2000.
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