Do you ever get in one of those must-have moods? Where nothing on earth will do except that one particular item?

Michael Clinton was in one of those moods. Four years ago, the longtime Winston-Salem resident decided he had to have a smoothie. So to satisfy the craving, Clinton and his two sons, Matthew and Michael Jr., headed out to West End Smoothies on Brookstown Avenue.

Upon arrival, however, Clinton discovered he wouldn’t be getting a smoothie that day ... at least not from West End Smoothies.
“They had closed,” Clinton says, as if he’s still in shock. “We just stood outside the door, looking in. We were all pretty sad about it.”

It was at that moment, though, that Clinton’s dismay gave way to something divine. A spiritual soul, Clinton says he got a “gut feeling” while starring into the vacated shop. “Something was telling me, ‘Hey, this is going to be your place.’ And I’m sure that something was God.”

Soon after, Flashback Smoothies was born. That’s not to say there weren’t some growing pains along the way, though.

Clinton — then a full-time musician who still serves as his church’s musical director — had zero restaurant experience. In fact, he had never made a smoothie in his life.

But with his boys serving as chief tasters, Clinton began stirring and sampling, mixing and matching, determined to come up with concoctions that others would enjoy.

“We didn’t care about the costs,” he says. “We really just wanted our smoothies to taste good. If the recipe called for one scoop of fruit, we’d put in two just to try it out. People always ask me how our smoothies got so good, and I say, ‘by mistake!’ ”

Mistake or not, there’s no mistaking that Clinton has perfected the art of smoothie making. Because he doesn’t heavily dilute the drinks with ice — a tactic used by many shops to lower costs — each smoothie is robust and thick. Choices range from stand-bys such as Satisfying Strawberry (a strawberry/banana mix) to the not-so-standard Chuck Berry, which combines pineapple, strawberries, bananas, and orange sherbet. “The Chuck Berry is definitely our top-seller,” he says. “It’s just so refreshing.”

For the inventive spirit, Flashback offers a create-your-own smoothie option. It also carries a line of locally inspired smoothies, such as the “Marvtastic,” in honor of the late Larry Leon Hamlin, and the ever-timely “RiverRun.”

The smoothies — each served with a complimentary supplement — run from $3.99 to $4.35. Not bad for a drink that can supplant an entire meal. “We get a lot of customers who drink smoothies for their lunch,” he says. “They really fill you up and keep you moving all day.”

While the shop started out as a smoothie-only operation, they’ve since added several food items, the most popular being the toasted all-beef hotdogs. For a leaner choice, try the turkey dog or the homemade chicken salad — both lunchtime favorites. And like any good soda shop, customers can enjoy a variety of ice cream selections.

It seems the only thing you won’t find much of at Flashback is seating. Aside from a row of rocking chairs out front, the eatery is largely a to-go spot. Despite this, the restaurant has quietly become a staple of the West End community, taking home the 2007 Small Business of the Year Award from the Winston-Salem Urban League.

It’s puzzling, then, that outside of the West End region, the restaurant is largely unknown — a true hidden gem if there ever was one. “I hear people all the time say, ‘I’ve heard of your restaurant, but I can’t ever find it,’ ” Clinton says.

(Just for the record, Flashbacks is in a quirky triangular building on Brookstown Avenue, just off of Fourth Street).

But for those who do find Flashback, they often find a home. The colorful walls are lined with 1950s-era artifacts, while uplifting Christian music hums in the background. On top of that, Clinton seems to personally make sure that every customer is greeted with a smile once they swing open the door.

All-in-all, it seems the small shop has become exactly what Clinton envisioned four years ago, when he stood outside the shop’s front door.

“We’ve always just tried to be a light,” he says. “A place that will lift your spirits. There’s enough darkness and negativity out there. We just want to be a place that will help brighten your day.”

Flashback Smoothies is at 1003 Brookstown Ave. For menu options, daily specials, and more, call 336-724-2363 or go to http://www.flashbacksmoothies.com.