Big Açai to open its 'super food cafe' in downtown Des Moines skywalk

Big Açai will bring its "super food cafe" to downtown Des Moines, adding its sixth location since opening as a food truck in 2017.

Owner Lanette Byers plans to open the newest Big Açai in the skywalk northeast of 801 Grand Ave. The store is aiming for a fall opening.

The 1,000-square-foot location will have a similar menu to its other cafes, with a focus on grab-and-go menu items that can be eaten next door in 801 Grand's shared seating area or taken back to workers' desks.

Menu items will include build-your-own bowls featuring açai, coconut, matcha or warm oats and other toppings, smoothies, espresso beverages, hot chocolate, salads, burritos and toasts with avocado spread and other toppings.

At the existing cafes, the toasts are offered on bread. With a lack of prep space, Big Açai's skywalk location will instead package the traditional toppings with crostini for guests to assemble themselves.

Big Açai focuses on using organic, plant-based ingredients for all of its menu offerings. Açai, a small berry grown on South American palm trees, is one of the eight superfoods dietitians recommend for a healthy diet. 

"All of our concepts are designed to sort of tap into the superfoods," Byers said.

Big Açai has storefront locations in West Des Moines, Ankeny and Ames. It also has two food trucks, one of which is based in Okoboji and travels around northwest Iowa, and the other which travels in communities near the Des Moines metro.

The skywalk location will open early in the morning and close around 2:30 p.m. An official opening date has not been set.

Kim Norvell covers growth and development for the Register. Reach her at knorvell@dmreg.com or 515-284-8259. Follow her on Twitter @KimNorvellDMR.

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