The new Natick Nutrition cafe at 22 Main St., in the center of town had hoped to open much earlier in the year. But a December launch has its charms, too, as we discovered upon our first visit on an unseasonably warm morning that allowed the owners to keep the front door wide open to the curious.

We met mom-and-daughter owners Kathleen and Brittany, who put plenty of elbow grease into readying their shop for the public over the past several months. That included ripping up carpet, finding just the right sinks, and just completely renovating the space. Multiple flooring laters were discovered under the carpet, Kathleen said.

The place now has a modern farmhouse vibe that will soon have a lot more places to sit as well, including countertop seats.

Brittany honed her skills for Natick Nutrition by working at the Milford shop, while mom Kathleen has been a longtime consumer of the products.

We parked ourselves in front of the faux fire in a couple of cozy armchairs, and served as a Christmasy window display as we sipped on our protein-packed smoothies.

Deborah went for the sweet Strawberry Banana version, while Bob went no further on the menu than item #1 that day, Banana Cream Pie, with graham cracker crumbs sprinkled on top. How often do I get pie for breakfast?

Both of the $8 smoothies hit the spot and kept us going until lunch.

You won’t see Natick Nutrition jamming a bunch of fruit or veggies into a blender to concoct its smoothies. Its ingredients are based more on special protein powders that include vitamins, soy, whey, beet extract, and come from Herbalife, an outfit that has its share of proponents and detractors.

If smoothies aren’t your thing, mega-teas and other caffeinated drinks are on tap to keep you energized.

Natick Nutrition is one of numerous such franchises, including locally in Milford and Marlborough. It replaces Java’s at 22 Main St. within Natick’s Masonic Block.

The owners say they are looking to sync up with other local businesses, and in fact were collecting and displaying others’ business cards on their counter, hoping others will do the same for them.