Former NBA star Ray Allen is getting into the restaurant business. Allen and his wife, Shannon, are opening an organic fast-food restaurant called Grown, the Miami Herald reports. Opening in March in Miami, where Allen played his final two seasons, Grown will be one of the first organic fast-food restaurants in the country and the only such offering with a drive-thru on the East Coast. The Allens' inspiration to open the restaurant came from trying to meet the special dietary needs of their son, who has Type 1 diabetes. "I had an aha moment where I realized I couldn't sit around helpless waiting for someone else to create a fast-food option that met our family's dietary needs, and as we did our research it became obvious that this wasn't a struggle unique to us — families everywhere are looking for convenience without compromise." The Allens partnered with Todd Kiley, the executive chef of Rainforest Cafe, to create the menu. It will offer organic and gluten-free options like acai and fruit bowls, chicken-tortilla soup, and lettuce wraps featuring eggs, mushrooms, and diced honey baked ham, according to the company's Facebook page. In true fast-food form, the restaurant will have a drive-thru, carry-out services, and grab-and-go prepared items. "People want to be healthier, eat cleaner, and feel better about what they're putting in their bodies," Ray Allen told the Herald. Source: Business Insider |