If you’re looking for a virtuous meal in the neighborhood, check out the newly opened Nio’s Shake (63 Nassau St.) where you can find intentional, organic shakes. Packed with protein and whole-food ingredients, the shakes are designed to function as a complete meal or a quick way to fuel a busy day.
Founder Nio Vezdeni, who grew up in the Republic of Georgia, realized the value of fueling one’s body correctly at age 13. “My journey into nutrition began after I suffered a serious dance injury. Along with physical therapy, proper nutrition became one of the most important factors that helped me walk, recover and dance again,” she said. Her recovery inspired her dedication to nutrition for herself and for others, which she transformed into a career as a doctor. But the biggest turning point came when she moved to the United States and her daughter became very ill with severe digestive problems. “That experience pushed me to study nutrition much more deeply and completely changed my perspective on health,” she said.
Vezdeni ended up becoming a certified fitness instructor, and while working on the Upper West Side, she found that her clients weren’t getting the right nutrients. That’s when she started concocting the recipes for the shakes that would ultimately form her wellness brand.
The first Nio’s Shake was a pop-up in Williamsburg, which garnered a lot of buzz when it opened last year. The Nassau Street location, which opened this spring, is the first permanent storefront. Max Lu, Vezdeni’s partner, says that the neighborhood’s fast-paced office culture and many, many workers on-the-go made it a natural fit for a concept centered on convenient, nutritious meals.

“A lot of people will see this and be like ‘Oh this is for people who work out a lot, or people who are lifting a lot of weights,’’’ Lu said, “Really, it’s for the people who have a 9-to-5 who don’t have time to make their own shakes, or don’t know how to make their own shakes. And we make them very delicious, so anyone can have them and love them.”
Nio’s Shake uses clean, high-quality sourced ingredients and protein, and eschews artificial sweeteners and added sugar. Lu and Vezdeni have considered everything down to the type of blender they use, which is a specific brand that removes air and uses less ice. As Lu explained, “You’re getting a lunch option that has enough protein, enough micros and macros that you need, and it’s all from natural and organic sources.”
The shakes taste great, and are packed with as much flavor as they are nutrients. Nio’s Special includes oat milk, collagen, blueberries, strawberries and almond butter, plus a dozen more ingredients, and all of the supershakes have either 100% grass-fed whey protein or vegan brown rice protein. Lu’s current favorite, the Full Moon, features almond milk, Bulgarian yogurt, pineapple, kiwi, blue spirulina and whey protein. Another worthy mention is the shop’s protein waffles, which are gluten-free, made with almond flour and monk fruit, and contain 15 grams of protein and just five grams of natural sugar. If you’ve got a pet with you on your lunch break, they’re in for their own treat (literally), as the shop has special doggie treat blended with organic pumpkin and peanut butter.
As a new addition to the neighborhood, Lu hopes Nio’s Shake can provide New Yorkers with “the most important thing…organic foods and a quick lunch.” Whether you’re squeezing a speedy meal into your workday or looking for a post-workout boost, Nio’s Shake offers a convenient option for anyone hoping to fit a little more nutrition into their busy lifestyle.