Acai Bowl and Coffee Shop Expanding in Gulf Breeze
Bear Fruit Bowls and Coffee is planning its fifth location in Gulf Breeze with customizable acai bowls and espresso.
GULF BREEZE, FL — Bear Fruit Bowls and Coffee is preparing to open its fifth location at 203 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Suite B, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563, with owner Ryan Ford targeting a March 1, 2026 opening, he told Business Debut.
The fast-casual concept, known for customizable acai bowls and a full espresso menu, continues its steady growth after first launching in March 2022. The Gulf Breeze shop will be a brick-and-mortar location in the heart of the community, offering indoor and outdoor seating.
What to Expect
Bear Fruit Bowls and Coffee operates with a build-your-own model that allows guests to customize smoothie bowls by choosing their size, base, toppings, and proteins. Ford describes the concept as “the Chipotle of acai bowls,” designed for speed, flexibility, and consistency.
The Gulf Breeze location will be about 1,200 square feet and offer seating for approximately 20 guests indoors, with an additional 12 to 16 seats outside.
Menu and Vision
The menu will mirror offerings at the brand’s other locations, with acai bowls at the core and a full coffee and espresso program. The most popular item is The Classic bowl, made with acai, peanut butter, strawberries, bananas, blueberries, granola, and honey.
On the beverage side, the honey coconut cold brew is the signature coffee drink. Ford said the coffee program highlights beans sourced from Amavida Coffee in Seaside, Florida, a roaster that earned national recognition in 2019.
While the menu remains consistent, Ford said each location’s interior is designed to reflect its surrounding community. In Gulf Breeze, the buildout will incorporate local references, including bear-themed elements inspired by the area’s black bear population.
Ownership and Team
Ford owns the business outright, but said his wife, Alexis Ford, is deeply involved in every aspect of the operation. He also credited general manager Alan Marvin, who has been with the company since day one and has helped open each location. Alan oversees all of the stores.
Opening Timeline
The team is targeting a March 1, 2026 opening for the Gulf Breeze location.
Hours
The shop will be open seven days a week. Monday through Saturday hours are planned for 7 a.m. — 5 p.m., with Sunday hours from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Faith and Mission
Ford said Bear Fruit Bowls and Coffee began with a specific moment of prayer that led directly to the concept and the name.
“I was praying before I was going into work,” Ford told Business Debut. He said that during that season, “every time I pray I heard the word unfruitful.” One day, while sitting in a parking lot before work, he said he “really heard the Lord Jesus speak” and ask, “Why don’t you open up an acai bowl and coffee shop on the beach.”
Ford said he responded by asking what he would name it, and he heard the answer “crystal clear: bear fruit,” which he described as a call “to get out of the season of life that you’re in.” He added that the business launched without much money at the start, but he and his family moved forward believing they had been called to do it and that “the rest will be taken care of.”
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