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Updated: 9 hours ago

Friday Food Insider: Brunswick-based Bay Bowls will open Freeport cafe, its fourth location

Smoothie bowl dishes from Bay Bowls Photo / Courtesy of Bay Bowls Bay Bowls offers smoothies and fruit bowls featuring highly nutritious superfoods, including açaí and pitaya.
By Alexis Wells

Bay Bowls and Smoothies, a Brunswick-based mini-chain, will open its fourth location in downtown Freeport this fall.

Bay Bowls is a locally owned smoothie and superfood café known for its colorful açaí and pitaya bowls, fresh smoothies and vibrant, tropical-inspired atmosphere. Drawing influence from Brazilian flavors and culture, the café emphasizes health-conscious ingredients and a laid-back, beach vibe.

Sal Matari, who co-founded Bay Bowls with his wife, Soraia, told Mainebiz that the company's newest location will be at 32 Main St., at the former SipHouse coffee shop, which closed on Aug. 22.

The Freeport shop is expected open in October, with an exact date to be determined.

Bay Bowls has other stores in Brunswick, Portland and Bath.

Matari said that Freeport appeared to be a suitable match with a strong customer base.

Photo / Courtesy Bay Bowls
Bay Bowls is located at 32 Main St. in Freeport.

The Freeport store will be opened under a licensing agreement with owner Diane Bowley and her daughter, Hayley, a former employee of the Brunswick location.

"The way we run our company is that we aren't a full-blown franchise; we are a licensing and license out to employees," said the Mataris. "Employees find the location and we open the store with them." We have plans to keep growing Bay Bowls in Maine and out of state."

Expansion

This is the second location Bay Bowls will open this year. A Bath store opened earlier this summer. The mini chain launched in 2020 in Brunswick, then opened its Portland location in 2022. 

The Mataris said they’re aiming to recreate the same welcoming atmosphere found in their other shops.

“We’re designing it to feel just like our three other locations, so visitors instantly recognize the vibe,” they explained. “Everything we do has a hint of Brazil — from the beachy aesthetic to the vibrant colors — creating a lively and tropical feel throughout.”

About the menu

Bringing the same favorites to Freeport, the shop’s menu will include smoothies and açaí and pitaya (dragon fruit) bowls.

"Açaí is a product that comes from Brazil," said the Mataris. "For our bowls, we use the pulp of the açaí fruit, water and cane sugar. You can't have açaí without some sort of sugar."

Bay Bowls will be open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Reader feedback

What new food trends or restaurants should I keep an eye on? The Friday Food Insider wants to hear from you! Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz.

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