Acai Shop to Replace Big Gay Ice Cream

Following Big Gay Ice Cream’s closure at 516 Columbus Avenue and West 85th Street in February, a new tenant is already lined up to take over the space, as indicated by signage in the window.

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Baya Bar, which already has locations in Columbus Circle and at 775 Columbus Avenue between West 97th and 98th Streets, will be joining the growing competition of acai shops on the Upper West Side.

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In 2023, Baya Bar was ranked #357 on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list, which highlights the best franchise opportunities in the market. It also secured the #1 ranking in the Acai Bowl category “for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power,” QSR reported.

Founder and CEO Bill Loesch had a background in finance before opening his first Baya Bar in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn in 2016. “He noticed that açai bowl shops were taking the West Coast by storm and were moving east, so he decided to get involved,” notes the Baya Bar website about Loesch. The site also mentions that they expected to have 50 locations open by the end of 2024. Currently, Baya Bar has locations in New York, Louisiana, and Utah, with more planned for Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

The cornerstone of the Baya Bar menu is its açai bowls, such as the Pacific Beach Bowl, which includes strawberry, blueberry, granola, coconut shavings, and honey ($11 at 775 Columbus). They also offer coconut bowls, including the Coco Loco, made with banana, granola, and honey ($10). Their Dragon Pitaya Bowl, priced at $11, features banana, protein, granola, coconut shavings, and peanut butter.

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Smoothies are $9.99 across the board, including the Açai Smoothie, made with organic açai, banana, organic coconut milk, organic pressed juice, and apple juice. There’s also the Baya Blues, which blends mango, blueberry, pineapple, organic coconut milk, and organic cold-pressed apple juice. Their juices are priced at $8.99 and include the King Green, featuring kale, spinach, apple, and cucumber. The Weight Loss Wonder consists of apple, celery, apple cider vinegar, lemon, ginger, and cayenne. You can also add boosters, such as a ginger shot for $4.

Of course, Baya Bowls is also on the avocado toast kick, $8 for their Fresco version, with avocado, sea salt, everything bagel seasoning, and lemon. There’s also peanut butter toast and Nutella toast for $8. Oatmeal bowls are all $9, the Breakfast Boost Oatmeal with banana, granola, chia seeds, cinnamon, and honey looks like a nice way to start the day.

You can also grab an iced coffee ($3.55) or a hot coffee ($2.95). The Tiramisu Coffee is made with chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and frothed whole milk for $3.95. For a full look at their menu, visit their website here.

We reached out to Baya Bar to ask about their opening date and whether they plan to offer any location-specific specials.

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