Ashley Park has become one of the biggest stars in America. But Juice Press remembers her as a recent graduate of University of Michigan who we gave a job as a smoothie maker on Columbus and 71st Street. Our team's hearts go out to Ashley who has been recovering from severe septic shock and finally feels well enough to let her fans know how serious her condition was. Thankfully, she is now on her way to recovery.

As the CEO of Juice Press, I remember meeting Ashley for the first time when visiting our store on 71st and Columbus. Ashley was at the counter and I noticed that she was drinking hot tea and a famous JP rehab shot. When I inquired about it, Ashley told me that drinks helped her vocal cords. She had moved to NYC post college hoping to be an actress. and picked to work at our UWS location because it was convenient for her to easily access Lincoln Center and Broadway for auditions.

Ashley certainly had charisma and was very bright but I had no idea how quickly she would earn her first break. A few months later, she joined the ensemble of Mama Mia on Broadway and by the end of the year got her first big role as a leading vocalist in the King & I which was being performed at Lincoln Center.

But about a year later, the role which elevated Ashley to acting fame was her role as co lead in Mean Girls, which became the hottest show on Broadway. Despite her role, I can personally say that Ashley was NO mean girl! Even though she had stopped working at Juice Press we kept in touch and she told all her cast mates about Juice Press and provided them the juices that she had grown to love. Even better, Ashley gave me tickets to the show. And post show she gave my teenage daughter, wife and I a backstage tour!

We all know what happened from there. Ashley became an international superstar thanks to her brilliant performances in Emily in Paris. Through it she kept her head on her shoulders and has positively inspired so many.

In December, Ashley was traveling in Asia and went into septic shock to the point where some of her organs shut down. For weeks, she didn’t know if her life had been changed forever. Now her prognosis is positive and we of course are passionately rooting for her full recovery and return to acting.

Ashley Park is a classic New York City success story. She came to NYC with big dreams and won the hearts and attention of so many on her way to international fame. And now that she had this health scare I am moved to remembering and sharing a true American success story of Ashley Park.