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By Ayanna Eckblad

People looking to improve their lifestyle and health now have a place downtown that can help them with these goals.

Ignite Nutrition is a health club in Albert Lea, with other locations in the surrounding area, that serves various drinks and snacks such as energy teas, protein shakes, protein coffees and healthy oatmeal. They have options for children as well.

The people at Ignite Nutrition pride themselves on carrying many products for people who have special dietary restrictions or needs.

“I truly feel like we have something for everybody,” said Alicia Schumaker, Ignite Nutrition’s owner.

Schumaker grew up in Albert Lea and has been interested in health and nutrition since she was in college. While studying corrections at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Schumaker became part of a health club in the city that would fuel her passion and give her the goal to open her own store.

Schumaker opened Ignite Nutrition in November 2014 in its original location on Marshall Street. She said it was a bit of a struggle at first. Some days she had only about five customers come in. However, the store grew in popularity and now, Schumaker said she serves about 100 people a day. There are also about 10 employees working at the store.

The building the original store was located in began having trouble due to its age, prompting Schumaker to look into other options for her business. She learned about the salvaging of a building on Broadway and took the news as a sign to pursue it. She said she enjoyed the historic look of the building and was excited to give the decor there a modern twist.

The new Ignite Nutrition at 132 S. Broadway Ave officially opened July 10. Schumaker said the community has given her “an overwhelming amount of support,” describing that people from nearby businesses came by to welcome her, bring flowers or try the store’s products.

With the new location, Schumaker said she hopes to reach even more people in Albert Lea and the surrounding areas for years to come.

“My biggest intention is to continue to do what we’ve already done great,” Schumaker said. “So we’re really good at serving customers, listening to customers, providing a positive and safe place for people. … There’s so many people who don’t even know about us even after being here for nine and a half years.” She said she would like to spend time reaching out more to students and other athletes in the area.

Schumaker would like the community to know that Ignite Nutrition also does individualized health coaching, wellness profiles and body composition scans.

“We’re all health coaches and so we help customize meal plans for people,” Schumaker said. “That’s things that we do that I don’t think a lot of people realize. … It’s a free service that we provide, so [you] might as well take advantage of it.”

Schumaker added she is very pleased to work at her new store on Broadway.

“It’s a thriving downtown area, and it’s doing really well,” she said. “By supporting us, you get to support the community as well, which is something I love, it’s one of my favorite parts.”