WATERVILLE — Food enthusiasts will have a new option for their palates when an eatery serving crepes, smoothies, energy drinks and more opens in early August downtown.

Jendi Crepe & Smoothie at 40 Main St. will offer crepes filled with whatever customers want, including lotus, Kinder-brand chocolate, Nutella, kiwi, strawberry, pistachio and white and dark chocolates, owner Mohammad Aljendi said. Waffles also will be featured.

The smoothies will be made with 100% natural ingredients and fresh fruits such as strawberry, kiwi, mango and avocado. Cold coffee and different types of energy drinks also will be on tap.

“We have what we call in Arabic something called ‘Empire,'” Aljendi said. “It’s like a whole meal. It’s edible and at the same time it’s drinkable.”

Empire includes a combination of banana, kiwi, strawberry, chocolate and roasted almonds and cashews, he said.

“Those together will be very tasty and very strong,” he said. “You can take this as a lunch because it will give you a full meal. We love it, so hopefully, you guys will like it. We decorate it in a certain way, looking so beautiful.”

Aljendi, 25, moved to the United States from Syria many years ago with his family so his father could get treatment for heart problems, he said. Following his recuperation, the family stayed. Aljendi said his family had lived in Turkey as well as in Arizona. They moved to Maine because they didn’t like the heat, he said. While Aljendi lived in Augusta for two years, he found Waterville more active and engaging, so he bought a house here and loves the city, he said.

He said he was best friends with Akran “AJ” Mohammad, who owned the Iraqi Kabab Market on College Avenue with his wife and who was killed in a motorcycle crash in 2022.

“We always worked together, and I was with him when he was opening his store,” Aljendi said. “He always told me, anything with food and drinks, people will love it and treat you right.”

Aljendi renovated the former jewelry shop at 40 Main St., painting the walls a fresh gray, and adding kitchen equipment, a bathroom, bar, shelves, orange booths and tables and chairs. Employees will include Aljendi, a chef and one or two other workers, he said.

An exact opening date in early August has not yet been set, but Aljendi said he plans to have a soft opening. He expects be open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. most days, and noon to midnight Friday and Saturday. The hours may change according to when customers like to come in.

The eatery is located adjacent to Incense & Peppermints near the corner of Main and Silver streets downtown and can be found on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, Aljendi said.