Larry and his sister Lauren Seglia, both Los Gatans, own Juice It!, the health drink and smoothie store on E. Main Street. The store is a gathering spot for the Barbellas several days a week after school.

Probably the most visible family member is Breanne. The 10-year-old greets people, blends drinks, cleans up and runs the cash register, applying the same passion and energy to her tasks as she does to her horse.

"She does everything I would do," her father says proudly, adding with a chuckle, "I can sit out front and drink my coffee, and she can run the store."

Breanne's experience comes from her love of being involved in her family's business. It started at age 6. At the time the family owned Cupertino Natural Foods on De Anza Boulevard, their business for 17 years. There she first learned to tinker with the cash register. Her learning experience continued last year when Larry and Lauren bought the store that was originally known as Nector's.

"My sister and I wanted to get involved in something together, and Juice It! is a natural evolution from health food," Larry notes, recalling how he and his sister used to sit out front of the place on countless evenings after their sessions at a gym down the street. Purchase of the place came after a spontaneous action. "I just went in and asked."

Besides folks just wanting a spring pick-me-up during the recent warm spring weather, the store attracts hikers and cyclists coming in from their workouts on the nearby Los Gatos Creek Trail who depend on their daily portion of wheat grass (95 cents a shot) or protein drink. Weather has made a big difference in what they order.

"Today was a booming day," Larry says of a Sunday when Highway 17 was jammed with traffic headed toward the beach in Santa Cruz. "They all wanted smoothies."

While the normal winter order is for vegetable juices, spring orders tend toward fruit blends and smoothies. The most popular is a smoothie of strawberry, apple juice, banana and vanilla yogurt ($3.75). Another is Mango Mania, a blend of mango juice, orange sherbet, strawberries and vanilla yogurt. The Protein Olympia, the low-cal, shake-like blend of peaches and bananas favored by athletes, includes a protein additive ($4.25). What protein? "It's a blending secret," Larry smiles. "If I revealed that, then everyone would be making their own."

And Larry, after all, wants to keep those folks coming back. It's a happy business, he says, one where he can mix with his customers. Many of them like to ride their bikes on the same Los Gatos mountain and Demonstration Forest trails he covers. It's also a chance to be with his kids in a setting where they can learn and contribute to the family. "One man came in here, saw Breanne behind the cash register and complained I was allowing her to take a job away from someone," Larry says incredulously.

Lauren and Larry have more than a year of managing Juice It! to their credit. As a result, they are becoming more involved in community functions, like preschool tours of the store and participation in school fundraisers. Meanwhile, Breanne works the cash register. "I like giving people their money," she says.

Juice It!, located at 81 W. Main St. in Los Gatos, is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 408.395.2333.