A Sweet & Savory Business

By LISA LOEWEN | Photos by JOHN BURNS

When it comes to complementary foods, it’s probably peanut butter and jelly — not smoothies and chicken wings — that first come to mind.

But walk inside Hanebe, a juice bar that operates under the same roof as fried chicken restaurant Crispy & Co, and smoothies and chicken wings are exactly what you’ll find.

Located at 2855 SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka, Hanebe’s all-natural juices, smoothies and açaí bowls appeal to anyone with an appetite for healthy indulgences. Their menu items include everything from fresh-squeezed juices (think cucumber, apple and celery) to açaí bowls topped with fresh avocado or chia seeds and honey.

Just a few steps away, Crispy & Co’s Asian-fusion chicken wings and fries are there to satisfy the cravings of customers who desire something a little more savory.

GLOBAL EXPERTISE

CJ Chendrawijaya, who co-owns Hanebe as well as Crispy & Co, developed his dual-restaurant concept after managing a variety of food businesses around the world. Originally from Indonesia, CJ worked for several years in Australia’s food industry before coming to the United States. He eventually ended up in Topeka.

The building at 2855 SW Wanamaker Road was once home to a yogurt shop and the former Mediterranean restaurant known as Gyroville. When members of his family bought the property, they asked CJ to use the space to bring something new to the community.

“When I was in Australia, I worked with bars, food trucks, cafes, coffee shops, you name it,” said CJ. “So, I already had some great ideas of what we could do in this space. I wanted something people wouldn’t find anywhere else, that sense of Yin and Yang.”

CJ spent three months researching consumer trends, ingredients, food sourcing and market conditions to determine the ideal menu items for each restaurant. He analyzed his findings and decided to use the “opposites attract” concept of two distinct restaurants — healthy on one side and fried on the other.

“When I lived in Sydney, people there really cared about their health and loved clean, fresh food,” said CJ. “It has become a trend here, as well, and I wanted to bring that concept to Topeka.”

A SWEET IDEA

Fresh fruits and vegetables are the foundation of Hanebe’s menu. The juice bar uses locally sourced produce as often as they can, with CJ personally inspecting every order of fruits and vegetables to ensure they’re of the highest quality. He imports açaí berries from a certified company in San Diego and purchases honey direct from Sunflower Bee Company, a local bee farm.

“I walked into Hanebe one day to try an açaí bowl and asked where they got their honey from,” said Joe Purdum, owner of Sunflower Bee Company. “I asked CJ to try my local honey and have been his supplier ever since.”

Hanebe soon became Joe’s biggest customer, purchasing 50 pounds of honey every two weeks.

“That fresh honey really does taste better,” said CJ.

Honeybees were also the inspiration behind Hanebe’s name and brand.

“I wanted a name that meant something,” said CJ. “Honeybees are known for organization and as a symbol of wisdom. In the Bible, they represent God’s blessings and wisdom.”

While researching how he could include honeybees in his brand, CJ searched Google to learn how “honeybee” is pronounced. The answer he discovered became the name of the restaurant: Hanebe.

A SAUCY APPROACH

CJ said that he didn’t want Crispy & Co’s menu to veer too far from the traditional fried chicken tenders and wings that customers expect.

“Who doesn’t like fried chicken?” said CJ. “I have been all over the world, and fried chicken is everywhere. My idea was to offer people something they already know they like, but put a little spin on it.”

For CJ, that meant offering the same fried chicken tenders and wings that customers can find at almost any fried chicken establishment, but with an Asian twist. Their dipping sauces are a fusion of western and Korean, Vietnamese and Thai flavors.

Customers can choose from different seasonings like soy garlic, bulgogi or gochujang, a sweet and spicy red chili paste that’s common in Korean cuisine, as well as dry rub options like salt, pepper, basil and their golden original recipe.

Crispy & Co also offers french fries, tater tots and sweet potato sides with flavors like cheddar, sour cream and barbecue. Those with a bigger appetite may be interested in the restaurant’s specialty, which they call The Guilty Pleasure — a bed of fries topped with chicken tenders and special sauce.

“It isn’t just our flavors that make us different,” said CJ. “Asian culture is based on family-style meals. Our wings are big enough to share.”

A GROWING REPUTATION

Hanebe and Crispy & Co have only been open for a little more than six months, but the parking lot stays full because customers are spreading the word. CJ said that people ask him all the time if they can work at one of his restaurants. Many of the employees are high school students, and both restaurants have a reputation for being a safe and fun work environment.

“I see this as a workshop where kids can experience work in a good place where people care about them,” said CJ. “I let them make mistakes, and they learn from that experience.”

Employees who work for him learn what it means to be reliable and responsible. They greet customers with a smile, and learn that a kind word can go a long way.

High school sophomore Ava DiGiovanni has been working part time at Hanebe since late last summer. After she and her grandmother stopped in one day to try an açaí bowl, she knew she wanted to work there.

“I just loved the energy here from the moment I first walked in,” said Ava. “I mentioned that to CJ, and he asked if I wanted a job. There is no stress here. I come to work and actually like what I do.”

Ava said she wanted to find a job where she felt like she was able to help people. At Hanebe, she gets to brighten the customer’s day with conversation and a healthy drink or fruit bowl.

“I have never seen any other place like this one,” Ava said. “My friends want to work here, too, because I like it so much.”

Employee Christian Torres has been working at Crispy & Co since December, after a conversation between his dad and CJ resulted in a job offer.

“I graduated high school early and needed a job before I headed off to the East Coast for college. CJ didn’t care that I would only be available for eight months. He took a chance on me, and I am so grateful,” said Christian, who added that CJ is more like a mentor or big brother than a boss.

“CJ treats everyone here like family,” said Christian. “He is so understanding and easy to work for. I never have a day that I don’t want to go to work.”

A PLACE TO CALL HOME

Even though CJ has traveled all over the globe, he sees Topeka as his home. The people here have embraced him and shown support for his less-than-conventional business ideas. While he hopes that Hanebe and Crispy & Co succeed, CJ wants these establishments to offer more than just good food.

“At the end of the day, it really isn’t about the profit,” said CJ. “I just want this to be a good place to be for customers and employees.”