April 19, 2022

A new restaurant specializing in acai and other superfood bowls opens this week in Sioux Falls.

Nautical Bowls is the latest addition to Empire Place, the new retail development along West 41st Street in front of The Empire Mall.

Franchisee Lexus Paulson discovered the concept in Minneapolis and is opening the Sioux Falls store Saturday with her mother, Arlys. It’s the ninth store in the company.

“It’s just fun to see it come together,” Paulson said. “It’s going to be really cool and definitely gets us excited for opening.”

The menu includes a number of signature bowls with the option to customize your own.

Bases include acai, which is a slightly tart, earthy-tasting berry; Blue Majik, which is an extract of a seawater algae; pitaya, which is a fruit of several cactus species that has been described as a cross between a kiwi and a pear; cacao; mango; coconut; and chia pudding. Toppings include seeds, coconut, granola, fruit and nut butters.

“You can get really creative,” Paulson said. “If one bowl wasn’t your favorite, try another because there are so many combinations I think there is something for everyone.”

While it’s a quick-service-style restaurant, “we cater to a lot of dietary restrictions,” she continued. “We’re dairy- and gluten-free, and everything is plant-based. If someone has a nut allergy, we’re able to make the bowl in the back of the store, so that’s a really cool thing.”

Hiring for Nautical Bowls “is great,” Paulson said, adding the store is outperforming many others.

“A lot of these girls are high schoolers, it’s their first job, and I’ve tried to make the interview fun and tell them everything I can about the business. I want them to interact with customers and have friendships with their co-workers.”

It has led to many hiring referrals already, she said.

“I think I have more than enough to tackle the task, but I have a feeling we’ll be busy and need all of them to help,” she said. “It’s been exciting to do the hiring process.”

Want to try a bowl for free? Be one of the first 50 people in line at 11 a.m. Saturday for opening day.

Hours will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and will be extended later in May once school is out to 8:30 p.m.