Five things to know about new Stanley shake shop

A new shop selling protein shakes and other beverages has opened in Stanley.

What it is

Fit N Lit Nutrition, owned by Jennifer Carroll, opened in mid-July at 121 E. Dallas Road in Stanley, next to a Food Lion grocery store.

The owner

Carroll became interested in protein shakes after two life-altering events - she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2017, and her 27-year-old son, Zachary Arnold, died unexpectedly in 2018.

"At that point, my life went extremely chaotic," Carroll said. "So I wasn't really eating, drinking very much. It was horrible."

Carroll's nutritionist suggested she try protein shakes, and Carroll began going to No Limit Nutrition in Lowell. Carroll befriended the owner, who introduced her to the products at that shop.

"From that point on, I just did a lot of research on my own and tried different things," she said.

The shop

Opening her own shop was a way for Carroll to introduce the same sort of business in a community she loves.

I live technically in Mount Holly, but this is the community that I thrive in. I go to church here. My kids go to school here. We also run another business. My husband and I have a landscaping business, and we do a lot of business here," she said. "So I just wanted to give back to our community, and that's basically where that came from."

The menu

Fit N Lit Nutrition sells a variety of meal replacement shakes, as well as energy drinks and drinks that don't contain caffeine. The shakes are dairy free, low on the glycemic index, and low calorie. She also offers frappes and iced coffee.

"I want everybody to come in and have a good time, and get really good tasting stuff that's actually healthy," she said. "It's not full of, you know, aspartame. Everything back there is stevia based too. I'm very careful about picking the products."

The future

Carroll hopes to eventually expand. Her business currently sits in the same building as a tanning salon. Eventually, if the shop is successful, she hopes to have her own building.

"I will stay in Stanley. I will not move outside Stanley," she said.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: 5 things to know about new Stanley shake shop