Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
A new business aims to give customers a healthy boost – one bowl at a time.
April Robinson opened Low Country Acai Bowls in downtown Barnwell in April. They serve acai bowls featuring a frozen sorbet made from nutrient-dense acai (pronounced “ah-sigh-ee”) berries that’s topped with sliced fruit, granola, nuts, coconut, peanut butter, honey, and other options.
“It’s fulfilling and it’s healthier as opposed to going and getting a Big Mac,” said Robinson. Her new career came about after changing her eating habits in pursuit of being healthier.
“When you change your lifestyle, you have to find a new thing to eat,” said Robinson. She learned about acai bowls, which began in Brazil, and had her first bowl from a business in Aiken in August 2023. She fell in love with the bowls, which she could only find in larger cities, and made regular trips to Aiken.
“Barnwell didn’t have anything like that as a healthier option,” she said.
That’s when she started making her own bowls at home and selling them. She quickly built a clientele base.
She also kept growing her knowledge, including from the owner of the Aiken business who shared tips and information. Robinson also signed up for the 12-week Propel Business Lab through the Southern Palmetto Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“Everything I needed to know about being an entrepreneur was taught in that class, including dealing with customers, balancing the books, and supply and demand. What you think you know as an entrepreneur and then what’s put out by the professionals is different,” said Robinson, who graduated from the program in April.
Though she didn’t win the $10,000 seed money from the pitch competition at the end of the program, Robinson said she still gained so much. Aside from the invaluable knowledge needed as a new entrepreneur, she has gained a new family with her fellow classmates.
“We’re still a family. We support each other,” said Robinson, citing how one classmate made her business T-shirts and another provided drone footage of the grand opening.
The business is located at McDonough Street, Barnwell, in the former Sno Shack building. Purchasing her own storefront has allowed Robinson to grow her business, including offering more sorbet bases and bowl sizes. It’s also allowed her to continue to grow her clientele. Much like she used to drive to Aiken to stock up on bowls, she now has out of town customers doing the same thing.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned is customer service. If you provide excellent customer service, they are going to come back,” said Robinson, who is grateful for her dedicated team.
Robinson hopes to keep growing her business – one bowl at a time.
Low Country Acai Bowls is open Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an hour lunch from 2:30 to 3:30, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the first two Sundays of each month from 2 to 5 p.m.
For more information, call 803-591-8177 or email lowcountryacaibowls@yahoo.com. To
place an order online, go to lowcountryacai.com.
