If your New Year's resolution is to eat a little healthier, Acai Bowls Tropical Fusion is looking to open a new location in The Garden this month.
Owner Wilmari Amaya has been building a local fan base for acai shops since purchasing the founder's Gulf Bridge shop in Brazil in 2019.
Amaya hopes to open the new Pensacola location during Gallery Night on Jan. 20. It is still awaiting the necessary permits to open, but could open as early as the weekend.
What else is in the garden? The Pensacola Gardens food court is getting a delicious new tenant this February.
House of Pho plans to open its new Vietnamese restaurant in Pensacola later this week , which will offer "phenomenal" flavors.
Native to the Amazon rainforest, this superfood is known to improve blood circulation, improve immune cell function, fight cancer cells, and have anti-aging effects.
Amaya says the restaurant differentiates itself from its competitors by using pure acai berries, and notes that other establishments may add toppings like apple juice or almond milk to the base to make the acai tastier. Although added ingredients are more expensive than pure acai berries, they reduce the nutritional value for the consumer.
When the prepared fruit is brought to the store, Amaya turns it into a frozen yogurt-like consistency that can be poured into bowls, waffles or glasses, versatile enough to serve as a nutritious breakfast or hearty dessert.
Customers have the freedom to be creative in their choice of toppings. Kids will quickly switch to marshmallows, sprinkles and chocolate chips, while the healthiest choose chia seeds, peanut butter or bee pollen to mix into their post-workout bowl.
"It's like ice cream without milk or sugar," says Amaya.
He expanded the market to meet the needs of his customers by offering protein shakes, shakes and twist cups alongside the traditional acai bowl.
At The Garden Restaurant, it starts with a simple bowl of acai, like its Caribbean best-seller, with granola, almonds, peanut butter, chia seeds, coconut, banana, strawberries, and blueberries. Over time, the owners will begin to introduce new dishes to the menu that may be exclusive to The Garden.
Though Amaya has taken over, the store still retains traces of genuine Brazilian influence, such as the popular "Brazilian-style" acai cup served with banana, kiwi, and condensed milk.
The Garden Store will be a more subdued version of the sunny Gulf Bridge location, with a green backdrop and wood tones.
"I thought it would be a lot of fun," he said.
The kiosk isn't the end of his expansion plans as he hopes to open a food truck in the future
He says that after moving from Venezuela to the Panhandle, his dream of becoming a leader became a reality.
"We did what we dreamed of," he said.
Visit the Acai Bowls Tropical Fusion Facebook page for more information.
This article originally appeared in Pensacola News Journal: Downtown Pensacola Park Welcomes Tropical Fusion Acai Bowls.
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