Decatur veteran turns passion for wellness Into mobile smoothie business

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - What started as a bare trailer found on Facebook Marketplace has grown into a rolling symbol of purpose and community in Decatur.

Jodi Maddox is the owner of SoulSmoothies, a plant-based smoothie truck serving fresh fruit drinks across the city. But for Maddox, the business is about far more than smoothies.

“I grew up in Decatur, Illinois most of my life,” Maddox said.

His days are long. After working as a fulltime caregiver for his Mom, he often spends another five to eight hours operating the truck — blending juices, cutting fruit and serving customers through the service window.

“It has almost been a year to the day, April of last year, when on Facebook Marketplace, I saw a barebones trailer,” Maddox said. “My intuition said, pull the trigger.”

Little by little, that trailer became SoulSmoothies.

The inspiration behind the business came during one of the most difficult seasons of his life. Maddox said he began focusing on nutrition and plant-based ingredients while caring for his mother, who battles Alzheimer’s.

“About a year and a half ago, I started taking care of my mother,” he said. “I applied those same ingredients — the herbs, the spices — that I use in the smoothies.”

A military veteran, Maddox says serving others has always been central to who he is as a person.

“When I first got out the military, one of my main primary goals was to give back,” Maddox said. “I love helping my fellow man and woman.”

Now, that service comes one smoothie at a time.

“It’s not just about the ingredients and nutrition you put in your body,” Maddox said. “It’s about your character and what you spill out in the community.”

You can find SoulSmoothies in Downtown Decatur, behind Happy Hut. They are open Monday through Friday, from 5pm until they sell out.