By Kayla Pickrell

Get ready, health gurus — Jamba Juice will opens its doors near campus in December.

“We hope the public sees us as a way to grow a healthy lifestyle by inspiring and simplifying,” said Don Marquess, owner of the new Lexington branch of Jamba Juice, a smoothie franchise that specializes in a healthy lifestyle for its customers.

Jamba Juice will be complete when students are let out for the semester, but the smoothie shop is postponing its grand opening until January, when the spring semester starts. A soft opening with events for family and friends will be in early December.

All the details of the grand opening are still being discussed.

“I didn’t know (a Jamba Juice) was opening in Lexington, but now that I do I’m really excited for it,” said Mae Seay, a psychology junior. “It’s a great place to get a smoothie.”

On top of providing fresh smoothies, Jamba Juice will be the first branch to provide frozen yogurt to customers.

Jamba Juice in Lexington aims to get involved in the community and start lunch programs at schools in the area, Marquess said.

Marquess owns the franchise rights for Jamba Juice in Kentucky, Southern Indiana and Southern Ohio and is deciding to use this branch to provide not only smoothies, but snacks and food during the day.

The shop will replace the recently closed J. Gumbos on South Limestone.

Students will be able to use UK Plus accounts at the branch. Marquess hopes it will “generate some excitement” at the university.

Another Lexington location is scheduled to open in spring 2012 at Fayette Mall.

“The healthy lifestyle that Jamba helps deliver is something important and missing in Lexington,” Marquess said.