Northwest's First Oxygen Bars Coming to South King County

AUBURN, WA-In a first for the Northwest, two oxygen bars will be opening up here in the coming months. The Juice Jive and Breathe is slated to open at 118 Cross St., and a second “bar” will open inside the existing Spunky Monkey restaurant and bar at 124 Second Ave.

Donel Brinkman is the owner of the Spunky Monkey, and the person behind Juice Jive and Breathe. Using oxygen generators that take in regular air and purify it by removing nitrogen and other trace gases, Brinkman plans to sell 20-minutes of purified, scented oxygen and an herbal “martini” for $15.95.

Oxygen bars are common in Japan, Europe and Canada. They began popping up in the United States in earnest last year, and now number more than 60. The trend has even given birth to its own group, the National Oxygen Bar Association.

The oxygen bar at the Spunky Monkey will have one oxygen generator and two infusers. The Juice Jive and Breathe location will have one generator and three infusers. Juice Jive and Breathe will also sell smoothies and nonalcoholic herbal martinis.

In case it’s a hit, Brinkman is reportedly planning to open three more bars in the Seattle area. Is it worth it? Don’t ask an owner. Oxygen bars don’t make specific claims as to the benefits of breathing pure oxygen, as it might lead to regulation as a drug.