If you happen to notice that some state and county workers seem a little perkier lately, especially in the afternoons, you can thank Amanda Borrego and her new Body Up Nutrition bar.

"I used to get tired in the afternoons," said John Lopez, 58, a state water and mineral-rights agent, as he ordered up a cookies-and-cream-flavored Herbalife protein shake from Borrego on a recent late morning.

Lopez had already downed the aloe vera water and herbal tea mix that Borrego serves at her bar at Cerrillos and Early streets.

Lopez said that since he's been stopping by Body Up, he's felt a definite energy boost in the afternoons. Two of Lopez's colleagues, Eleanor Duran and Cheryl Vigil, were trying Body Up for the first time.

"We are kind of health nuts," said Vigil, who ordered a strawberry cream shake.

Borrego, 23, said Body Up has attracted a variety of patrons, including athletes who want to bulk up, people trying to lose weight, and "older guys who want to be able to stay awake at work."

She said business has been building consistently, mostly by word of mouth. "Very few people don't come back."

She also said she's heard that high-school coaches have been telling their student athletes to have one of Borrego's nutrition shakes rather than downing Red Bulls and other energy drinks loaded with sugar and caffeine.

Borrego noted that word of the bar has apparently made its way to firefighters, who "come in but they always have to run off really quick."

She also handed several fliers to a police officer parked outside recently, and hopes Body Up may soon become something of a cop hangout.

Borrego, 23, is a recent business graduate of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, and was prompted to open a nutrition bar in Santa Fe after frequenting several in Las Cruces.

"I am putting my degree to work," Borrego said of her studies in finance and small-business entrepreneurship. Family members have been helping her out since she opened the bar about six weeks ago, but she's now pretty much on her own since her siblings have gone back to school after the summer break.

Body Up Nutrition is at 855 Cerrillos Road at the corner with Early Street. It was previously a flower shop, Flores de Santa Fe.

"I just love this location," Borrego said, noting that it is within walking distance of numerous businesses and several state and county offices.

Borrego said the building was in pretty good shape, and not a lot needed to be done to it before she opened.

At one end is Borrego's bar with five chairs and a nearby table for three. The rest is pretty much open space with several black and red couches for those who want to linger over their drinks and chat with other customers, which gives the place something of a club atmosphere. For the more active, Borrego put a Ping-Pong table in the back.

"I constantly see friends and co-workers in here," said Kristine Mihelcic Dennis, who works in the county's public-information office. "People come over here on their break all the time," she said between sips on a peach tea and aloe vera potion.

Borrego charges $5 a visit for the triple hit of aloe vera, tea and nutrition shake. First visit is free. Body Up Nutrition is open 7 a.m. to
6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

On the Web

Body Up Nutrition: www.thesantafevip.com/activities/featured-healthy-living-santa-fe-style/body-up-nutrition/