NBA Star Ray Allen Is Opening Grown, An Organic Fast Food Restaurant In Miami

Ray Allen, the two-time NBA champion and current free agent, is getting ready to expand his career beyond basketball — with his own organic fast food concept called Grown, slated to open in South Miami this March.

Allen and his wife Shannon, a former member of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, began developing Grown in response to the lack of nutritious, affordable food available to consumers on the go.

"Grown was born out of frustration," Shannon Allen said. "At home I do my best to prepare delicious, nutrient-dense meals for our five children, including our son Walker, who is living with Type 1 diabetes. Like most busy families, we juggle homework, afterschool sports, and everyday commitments—we live in our cars. I had an a-ha 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."

A team of nutrition experts, dubbed the "Kitchen Cabinet," have been enlisted to create a menu for Grown that includes locally sourced and organic breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, gluten-free baked goods, cold-pressed juices, and fair-trade coffee and tea. Menu items are expected to range between $4 and $18.

And, like any high-volume fast food restaurant, Grown will include a full-service drive-thru as well as carryout options, including family-sized meals.

In an effort to operate an even more sustainable business, Grown will also use compostable paper products and fully recyclable cups, BPA-free storage containers, and plantable menus and kids' meal packaging. A special section of the restaurant called "Kindergarten" will be used to host nutritional workshops, cooking demonstrations, and other events for private groups. A play area will encourage kids to play fitness and health-focused games.

"When Grown opens, it will very much be a concept unlike anything else, designed to be accessible by everyone," Ray Allen said in a statement. "From the weekend warrior to the soccer Mom and anyone in between."