Açai Bowl Shop Coming To Milford

MILFORD, MA — What is an açai bowl? Milford resident Tarik Miranda describes it as kind of like ice cream, but made from berries and healthier.

However you describe it, açai bowls are popular and delicious, and that's why Miranda is planning to open his own açai bowl spot in downtown Milford.

Miranda, 25, who works at General Dynamics in Dedham, had been searching for a business idea for a while. He was in the Boston area recently and went to grab an açai bowl at a shop in Everett. To his surprise, he ran into several people he knew from Milford.

If they were will to drive an hour for the berry treat, he saw the need for an açai store in Milford. Miranda works with computers now, but he previously worked at Dairy Queen, and feels comfortable with the product.

Açai bowls feature a base of the namesake berries that are pulped like a smoothie. From there, you can add whatever you want, whether it's chocolate, peanut butter, other fruit — almost like a sundae. Miranda likes his with mangoes, strawberries, sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter.

Miranda is in the process of getting town approval to open the shop in a small storefront at 8 Central St. (which is technically the rear of 200 Main St.). He plans to open as soon as he gets approval from the Planning Board — his application will be at Tuesday's meeting — Health Board and Select Board.

He's starting small with his first business venture, but hopes to expand into a bigger space someday.

"I want to do one thing, and I want to do that one thing right," he said.