Helena is a family town, and Near Me - Smoothies & Ice Cream is a family-friendly stop about 22 minutes away in Hoover. The shop is at 5882 Elsie Rd, in the Knox Square development across from Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Every order is made from real fruit while you watch, and kids get to see their smoothie or ice cream come together from start to finish.
A short drive from Helena
From Old Town Helena, take AL-261 toward US-31, then head north on US-31. Turn left onto John Hawkins Parkway (AL-150), go past the I-459 interchange, and turn right onto Stadium Trace Parkway. Knox Square is on Elsie Road, across from the stadium. The distance is about 11 miles.
Some Helena drivers prefer Morgan Road and I-459 instead. Use whichever way your map app suggests for current traffic.
Kid’s Favorite and the rest of the menu
The Kid’s Favorite group is a natural starting point for young customers: Sprinkle Blast, Choco Monkey and Cookie Galaxy. Like every signature flavor, each one can be made two ways. The shop either blends the fruit and ingredients into a smoothie or runs them through its machine to make ice cream.
The options are easy to keep straight:
- Smoothie in 20 oz or 32 oz
- Ice cream made from any signature flavor
- Scoop of vanilla or chocolate with 2 toppings
Prices for each are on our menu.
Parents have plenty to pick from too. The Energize group includes Tropical Buzz, Island Energizer and Citrus Cleanse, and the Indulgence group has Nutella Dream, Tropical Dream and Dark Chocolate Berry. If someone in the family avoids dairy, any order can be made with vegan vanilla or coconut sorbet.
Parties in Helena
Birthday parties, team celebrations after a season at Joe Tucker Park, school groups from Helena schools: the shop can host all of these as private events. You bring the group to Knox Square in Hoover, about 22 minutes from Old Town, and each guest picks a flavor and watches it get made. It is the same made-to-order counter kids see on a regular visit, with the whole party there.
Request a date on the Events page, or call (205) 378-7731 or email fruitnearme@gmail.com.
Hours and contact
Near Me opens later on weekdays, so plan around these times:
- Monday through Thursday: 5–9 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 12–10 PM
- Sunday: 12–9 PM
The shop is rated 5.0 on Google from 915 reviews as of October 2026. There is outdoor seating, and you can order online before you leave Helena. After an evening event at the Old Town Helena Amphitheater by Buck Creek, the shop is still open on Fridays and Saturdays until 10 PM.
