From left, Leah, Laith, Soraia, Sal and Shanna Matari, members of a large family hoping to open a second location of their smoothie shop in downtown Wiscasset this summer. Hannah LaClaire / The Times Record
Bay Bowls, a smoothie shop in Brunswick, is planning to open a second location on the Wiscasset pier on Main Street just a few months after launching the business.
Wiscasset selectmen unanimously approved the new business license Tuesday.
The Matari family opened the shop’s first location at 210 Maine St. in Brunswick this winter. The shop serves smoothies and acai bowls, or thicker smoothies topped with fruit, granola and other toppings.
Despite opening a business amid the COVID-19 pandemic, owner Sal Matari said business has been increasing by 15-20% each week.
“When is a good time to open a business? Nobody knows,” said Matari. “We opened on the coldest day in January but as the weather gets warmer people are loving it because it’s a healthier option to ice cream.”
Matari said he wants to eventually have multiple locations throughout the state, so opening a second, seasonal shop in Wiscasset is a good way to “get my feet wet.”
Wiscasset Chamber of Commerce Administrative Assistant Patricia Cloutier said the pier on Main Street is “a gathering place” for locals and visitors alike in the summer, in part because Route 1 passes by the pier. Anyone heading towards other tourist hubs like Boothbay Harbor or Bath must drive through the center of town.
“We have a few thousand people pass through not just in the summer but into the fall too,” said Cloutier. “Of course, last year was very different with COVID-19, but we’re fully expecting to have a lot of traffic this year because I think a lot of people are getting their COVID-19 vaccines.”
Cloutier credited much of the pier’s foot traffic to Red’s Eats, directly across the street from the pier, and Sprague’s Lobster on the pier. She said Sprague’s Lobster is “the anchor” for the pier because it draws people looking for Maine lobster.
Although foot traffic on the pier is likely, Cloutier said businesses, new or old, can’t rely on that alone.
“If (Bay Bowls) has good business practices, they’ll be as successful as they want to,” she said. “How you present your product and marketing will help your business.”
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