Prime IV Bets Big on a Liter of Relief for Ballantyne

Custom Chemistry in Every Drip

Quick Shots vs. Coffee Breaks

The IV bag dangling above Kristen Smith's shoulder reads 1,000 mL —enough fluid, she notes, to spare a client the chore of drinking 2.5 gallons of water. Tucked into a retail strip off Johnston Road, her new Prime IV Hydration & Wellness studio has replaced examination tables with reclining massage loungers, drawing a steady queue of corporate regulars.

"Most people walk around chronically under-hydrated and don't even know it," Smith says.

From Small-Town Ohio to South Charlotte

Smith, a native of Strasburg, Ohio, with a doctorate in physical therapy, logged eight years in Tampa before moving to Charlotte three years ago. In July 2024, she opened her first Prime IV location; Ballantyne is the second, part of a fast-growing national franchise. Between shifts, she and her husband wrangle two Bernedoodles—Grace and Caesar—who sometimes cameo on the studio's Instagram stories.

Liter-Loaded Drips and Custom Mixes

Competitors typically start at 250 mL; Prime IV begins at a full liter and doubles the nutrient count to eight. Nothing is premixed—nurses assemble vials to order inside a pharmacist-style workspace. In Taylor Nguyen's words,

"The needle's out before you can pick a Netflix episode."

Quick Shots, Faster Than Coffee

Pressed for time? Five-minute vitamin injections rank among the studio's biggest sellers:

B-12 Energy Boost – midday fatigue fighter
Tri-Amino Muscle Blend – popular with lunchtime gym crowds

Clients often duck in between Johnston Road meetings and leave before their parking meter expires.

A Recliner, a Stream and a Catheter

Once the catheter replaces the needle, patrons can bend an arm, scroll a phone or nap while the chair kneads their lower back. Smith swaps the term "zero-gravity" for "recliner" after the second mention—variety matters even when you're motionless.

Competitive Heat—and Cool Numbers

Retail IV therapy topped $3 billion in U.S. sales for 2024 , according to Grand View Research. Skeptics question efficacy, but Smith points to repeat-visit data and nursing-board oversight as proof the model is sticking around.

What's Next

Smith is scouting a third Charlotte address and tinkering with new ingredient stacks—collagen for joints tops the list. Membership pricing remains under wraps for now.

If You Go
Prime IV Hydration & Wellness – Ballantyne
16045 Johnston Rd., Suite D, Charlotte NC 28277
980-575-1013 · ballantyne@primeivhydration.com
primeivhydration.com · Instagram: @primeivballantyne

Community Partners

Rehydrate, then refuel—check out our breakfast deep-dive on (<https://strollingballantyne.com/dining/rise-shine-repeat-einstein-bros-serves-more-than-breakfast) , just down Conlan Circle.

Got wellness photos or a story to share? ballantyne@strollmag.com – everyone has a tale worth telling!

About the Author

—Nell (currently clutching a medium vanilla-hazelnut drip and an everything-shmear)

Creative Commons License

© 2025 Strolling Ballantyne / The Charlotte Mercury
This article, "Prime IV Bets Big on a Liter of Relief for Ballantyne," by Nell Thomas is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.

"Prime IV Bets Big on a Liter of Relief for Ballantyne"
by Nell Thomas , Strolling Ballantyne (CC BY-ND 4.0)

Strolling Ballantyne