A mother-daughter duo from Powhatan, Claire and Victoria Fisher, are making their dreams come true by opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant for their acai bowl business, Waimea Acai. Just a year after launching their food truck, they are set to open Waimea Bay on May 23, the anniversary of their first sales.
Located at 2105 Academy Road in the Powhatan Plaza Shopping Center, their new spot will offer a range of delicious acai bowls, deli-style sandwiches, coffee, and waffle desserts. They started the business to provide local options for smoothie bowls since the nearest place was 30 minutes away. Victoria was tired of making that drive and thought, “What if I just did it myself?”
Since they opened the food truck, they’ve seen a steady stream of customers. They initially sold bowls for $10 each and quickly garnered attention, with around 30 sales in their first few hours. “Every shift, we had 20 new customers,” said Claire.
As demand grew, they realized the constraints of their small food truck. “We had more demand than we could handle,” Claire noted. This prompted them to search for a physical location. Although they considered moving to busier areas, they remained committed to serving the Powhatan community.
The location they ultimately chose has a history; it used to be a dentist’s office. They liked it for its high foot traffic and closeness to local homes. They’ve made significant changes, removing walls to create a welcoming dining area and a service counter for their offerings.
Their acai bowls feature popular combinations like the Oahu, packed with banana, strawberry, granola, and blueberry. This summer, they plan to hire several employees to meet the needs of their growing business.
Statistically, the demand for acai bowls has been rising. According to a recent report, the global acai bowl market is expected to grow over 10% annually, reflecting a greater interest in healthy, convenient food options.
As they prepare for the opening, Claire and Victoria’s heart is clear: they want to introduce something unique to their hometown. Their commitment is not only to the food but also to creating a community space where locals can gather.
Though the focus is on the new restaurant, they will still bring the food truck to local events, ensuring their loyal customers can enjoy their product throughout the year.
For more insights on acai bowls and trends in healthy eating, check out this report from Statista.
