Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandy Landaas
Hi Mandy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Almost three years ago, my life changed in ways I never could have imagined. My husband, Bryan, was the most generous, healthiest, and smartest person I’d ever met. He had a passion for creating spaces where people could come together in meaningful ways. And then, in an instant, he was gone.
When our third child was only 9 weeks old, Bryan was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a Grade 4 aggressive, fast-growing brain tumor. Less than 12 months later, he passed away. That’s the reality of glioblastoma – it’s relentless and brutal, and worst of all, it doesn’t give you much time.
At the time, our kids were just 4, 3, and 13 months old. Losing him was devastating. It still is. And yet, in the midst of unimaginable grief, I’ve held onto his love and what he taught me about living.
Bryan lived fully, made intentional choices aligned with his values, and spent his time creating things that mattered. He woke up every day excited to go to work – something I used to think was so weird until I found myself making decisions that aligned with the life I wanted to live.
Bryan and I talked about opening a smoothie bar long before we even knew what it would look like. He was part of this vision from the start. He believed in making wellness effortless, in creating spaces that felt good to be in, and in bringing people together in meaningful ways.
So while The Bomb Bar has been my project, his presence is everywhere:
✅ The wood accents – because he loved warm, natural design.
✅ The skylight – because, like a good cowbell, he didn’t think you could ever have enough natural light.
✅ The Third Wave Smoothie – a nod to Third Wave Psychotherapy, the mental health counseling practice he founded to help people live meaningful lives.
✅ And more than just that one smoothie, a portion of all proceeds from The Bomb Bar will go toward glioblastoma research – because this disease needed a cure yesterday.
I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this alone.
My brother, Brett Huckle – He has handled everything behind the scenes and taken care of daily operations. This dream wouldn’t exist without him.
Nichole (Nichole Blough Designs) – The designer who somehow convinced me to love color and pattern (which, if you know me, is no small feat). The space she created is absolutely stunning, and I guarantee you’ll never see a more beautiful smoothie bar – until we open another one!
All of my friends and family – Who supported me even when I had the crazy idea to open a smoothie bar while already running a business and raising three kids.
The Bomb Bar isn’t just another smoothie shop. It’s a space built with intention, heart, and community. Every detail is designed to make you feel good – from the beautiful atmosphere to the Blender Bomb-powered smoothies that actually keep you full.
We’re bringing Raleigh something new – a place where healthy eating is effortless, where you can grab a smoothie, açaí bowl, or a Boulted Bread toast, and where wellness and connection come together in a way that feels natural and fun.
And if you need an excuse to stop by, we’ve got one:
Join Us for Our First-Ever “Smoothie Club” on March 22!
🕚 11 AM – 1 PM
🎶 Daytime vibes, but make it cool
☕️ Free Jubala espresso shots
💛 Great music, even better energy
Come check out the space, grab a smoothie, and be part of something special.
Because at the end of the day, this is more than a smoothie bar – it’s about living fully, honoring the people we love, and creating a life that feels intentional and meaningful.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. I know enough to know that opening a business always comes with challenges, and opening a smoothie bar in November (prime smoothie season, right?) didn’t exactly make things easier.
Construction was a major hurdle – delays, unexpected costs, and more than a few first-timer mistakes cost us both time and money. Permitting took longer than expected, supply chain issues pushed back timelines, and unexpected space issues turned into bigger expenses.
Balancing this with running Third Wave Psychotherapy and raising three kids on my own added another layer of difficulty.
But despite the challenges, we made it happen. We created a space that reflects both quality and intention, and we’re hopefully building something that will last.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Bomb Bar is part of The Bomb Co., a wellness brand founded in Charleston, SC by Helen Leland. It all started with Blender Bombs – superfood-packed nutrient balls designed to make smoothies more filling, balanced, and nutrient-dense. The Bomb Bar concept was a natural extension of the brand, bringing smoothies, clean ingredients, and whole-food nutrition to local communities. Raleigh is the company’s 2nd location, with the first being in Charleston.
Blender Bomb Smoothies – First and foremost, our smoothies are made without added sugar and without ice. Instead, we use only whole foods – frozen fruit, Blender Bombs, and our homemade Bomb Butter (a nut butter with half the fat and calories of regular nut butter). We add only water to create a smoothie that’s naturally sweet, nutrient-dense, and truly filling.
Açaí Bowls – Our bowls are made with high-quality, whole-food ingredients and loaded with toppings like fresh fruit, granola, and bomb butter.
Boulted Bread Toasts – We’ve partnered with local favorite Boulted Bread to create a rotating selection of artisan toasts, including the classic and crowd favorite avocado toast.
Jubala Coffee – We proudly serve a full lineup of coffee from Jubala, including their cold brew and signature Vanilla Oat Latte on draft. And for those asking – our Matcha Latte will be making a comeback in the next few months!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Starting a business is hard – and I’m still learning every single day. Although I feel very comfortable in the driver’s seat of Third Wave, stepping into the food industry has been a whole different animal. No matter how much experience you have in one area, switching industries means starting at square one in so many ways.
Here’s what I wish I had known when I was starting out:
1️⃣ You don’t know what you don’t know.
I’ve been running a successful business for years now, but this industry has a completely different set of challenges. If you’re stepping into something new, find mentors, ask questions, and learn from people who have done it before. There’s no shame in not knowing everything – it’s just part of the process.
2️⃣ Expect the unexpected.
There will always be something – construction delays, equipment failures, issues you didn’t even know existed (like whether a smoothie bar needs a grease trap 🙃). No matter how well you plan, things will go wrong, so build in extra time, budget, and patience.
3️⃣ Cash flow is everything.
It’s one thing to make sales, but it’s another to have enough cash on hand to cover expenses. The food industry has tight margins and unexpected costs, and I’ve learned firsthand how important it is to know your numbers inside and out.
4️⃣ Hire people you can trust.
I cannot do everything myself. One of the best decisions I made was surrounding myself with people I can trust – my brother Brett running operations and our team that keeps things moving every day.
5️⃣ Perfection is the enemy of progress.
There is no such thing as the perfect launch. You will tweak things as you go. You will change your systems. You will wish you had done something differently. Start anyway.
6️⃣ Your ‘why’ has to be stronger than the obstacles.
There will be days when you wonder why you ever thought this was a good idea. If you don’t have a deeper reason for doing this – something that matters to you beyond just making money – it’s easy to burn out.
7️⃣ I’m still figuring it out.
Every day, I’m learning something new, making adjustments, and realizing just how much I don’t know. The food industry moves fast, and the challenges are different from anything I’ve faced before.
But at the end of the day, learning something new, pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, and building something meaningful – that’s what makes it worth it.
If you’re just starting out – keep going. No one has it all figured out, and that’s okay. 💛
Pricing:
- $12 Smoothies
- $12 Toasts
- $13 Acai Bowls
- Free Espresso Friday
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thebombbar.com/location/raleigh/
- Instagram: thebombbar_raleigh
