Ball State University sophomore Bethany Planton sipped on a strawberry smoothie under the hot sun, though hidden by the shade of a beach umbrella. She was surrounded by huge green plants and the sounds of a waterfall. Planton only had one complaint.
"They need beach volleyball," she said.
Planton is joined by another Ball State sophomore, Ashley Corn, at Island Muncie, a new smoothie shop inspired by tropical island getaways, right off of the Cardinal Greenway, north of McGalliard Road. Roger Conatser, the owner of Island Muncie, came up with the idea of an mini-island paradise in Muncie five years ago.
"We were making smoothies in the house one day," Conatser said with a smile, "and [my daughter] said we should make smoothies for the bike people [on the Greenway]. She was six, and now, of course, she's eleven, and she's in the there making smoothies."
Conatser said Island Muncie was inspired by all of his trips to Jamaica - about 20 - over the years as a photographer. He said he took pictures of hotels and reggae music festivals.
"Any excuse to go to Jamaica," he said.
Although Island Muncie had been open for two weeks, Labor Day weekend marked the grand opening for the getaway, and Conatser said it was a great turnout. He said the shop had received a lot of positive feedback from the community about the tasty smoothies, the mellow atmosphere and the vacation feeling the Island brings visitors.
Conatser said the grand opening weekend brought in all kinds of customers, including families, couples and students. Some came to enjoy a smoothie while others just came to take a peek out of curiosity. He said many people from out of town came to check out Muncie's new paradise.
Mary Trent said she came from Winchester to accompany her friend, Muncie resident Nancy Hall, to the new shop for Hall's birthday.
"It was perfect," Trent said, "and I don't know how they brought the sand in, but there's a lot of it."
Hall said she loved the environment of Island Muncie. She said it was relaxing and she loved the beauty of the "lush plants and the beautiful waterfall," even mentioning how the mini-island gave her the chance to soak up the last rays of summer without traveling far.
"It brought a little flavor to Muncie," she said.
Hall and Trent relaxed in deck chairs, sipped smoothies and talked while taking in the sun and sand, making a special stop to take a picture in front of the 16-foot waterfall. Hall said she also appreciated the "special little touch of hospitality" when they were given leis after buying their smoothies.
"It's as close to a tropical paradise as you can get [here]," she said.
Conatser said now that his dream has come true, he has a lot of plans for Island Muncie. He hopes to start selling food at the smoothie stand next spring and would also like to have live music on a regular basis, as long as it is mellow and enjoyable, he said.
"Jimmy Buffett canceled this weekend," he said jokingly.
Conatser said he also plans to accommodate the upcoming winter months by serving espresso, hot chocolate, coffee, hot tea and other hot beverages beginning in mid- or late November.
Although the festive plants will have to go indoors before the first frost, Conatser said he still plans to keep the waterfall around for as long as he can.
"Yeah," he said, laughing, "I could have an ice skating rink."
Despite the lack of beach volleyball, Planton and Corn said they loved their first visit to Island Muncie. Corn, who enjoyed a kiwi strawberry smoothie, said she plans to return again.
"I'm definitely going to remember it," she said.
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