Ion Nutrition

Was looking for the candy store and forgot they had moved… I was pleasantly surprised to find a nutrition shop has moved in the place the old candy store once was. Do you think the gods are trying to tell me something? Alright, I get it. I’ll go in and see what they have that would be GOOD for me and not bad for my teeth.
When I walked in to Ion Nutrition, I was greeted by a handsome man behind the counter of this incredibly well maintained store. Every product perfectly placed on the shelves. All signage in place making it easy to find anything you could imagine. Protein supplements, vitamins, Monster energy drinks, pre-​workout (yes, I know you’re wondering… she knows what «pre-​workout» stuff is. Just because I don’t look like the guy behind the counter, doesn’t mean I don’t talk to my fitness-​savvy friends about their training!), NOW supplements/​vitamins (which I actually needed… timing *IS* everything!), Cliff bars, Kind products, Redbull, all items I should be spending my money on instead of eating at TL’s Four Seasons around the corner from here.
Since my knee surgery, I just haven’t been the same. I’m still in PT 2 – 3 days a week, still icing my knee, swollen ankle on occasion and now we found 2 herniated discs in my back. Yeah, it’s lots of fun. I have really been trying to watch what I’m eating and incorporate more fruits & veggies into the place of easy to grab snacks which are processed and have all kinds of chemicals in them to make them last longer, because if you can’t work out at the gym like I would LOVE to be doing, you gotta at least watch what you are putting in your mouth. I was down about 20 lbs. but a few stressful days and allowing me to walk down the snack aisle at Target will change that. So it’s more like 17 lbs. down. Why does Target have to have Oreos at the friggin entrance, anyways? Its like they know that Catherine is coming and move the display there.
Anyways, enough about me, back to my visit. Turns out the very knowledgeable and handsome gentleman behind the counter was the owner, Neal. He was so helpful to me… the idiot about most things. He answered a bunch of my silly questions. I even saw the protein powder I have at home in his store and got so excited because now I have an excuse to come visit him. Y’all know how I love to support my local business owners… and Costco, who am I trying to kid? Neal was very gracious and we ended up having a very nice conversation which was cut short by a number of customers coming in to buy their supplements and protein powders, etc. I was thrilled to see he has regular clients and I was quite surprised as well because he is so new, to my understanding. Their Grand Opening event is next month, May 30^th, 2015. He told me about a number of vendors coming to visit and it sounds like it will be a great time. I definitely will be stopping by, as well. He was there for his shoppers but not obtrusive. He was helpful without being pushy. I just loved his overall attitude towards his clients. Shaking hands and knowing their names. I was impressed.
I will be back and soon, because I just noticed I’m running a little low on one of my vitamins I sometimes buy at Fruitful Yield, however, Ion Nutrition is closer, a small business and the staff (ie. owner of the shop) actually spoke to me whereas the only people that talk to me at Fruitful Yield are the ones that legally have to… like my husband and the checkout person. I think I found my new shop for all my nutritional needs.
One more thing… I checked out his website and they have a very nice return policy in which they really stand behind the products they offer and you can return them for a full refund within 30 days, with your digital or paper receipt and as long as there is 70% or more of the product remaining and let’s face it, sometimes we buy something we don’t end up using and throwing it out once it expires. I love this return policy because it allows you to «get your money back», but also it gets you back into the store and hopefully will give you the opportunity to find something else to replace that product that will work better for you and you will find helpful for whatever your need might be. And if you’re not sure, just ask Neal or whomever is working. In the first visit I was there, I witnessed Neal really taking time to assist his shoppers/​clients in finding what they need and he even asked them how the item they previously purchased is working for them. That’s a man that cares about the customer. I admire him for that because I am very much the exact same way.

GREAT new place in Bartlett! The owner is very knowledgeable, personable, helpful and professional! Great selection of products! The owner is very down-​to-​earth and clearly cares more about people than money! RECOMMENDED!!!