OUR STORY
In early 2016 Bill Loesch, Founder & CEO of Baya Bar, was at a crossroads. Chasing a Wall Street dream glorified by the film industry, Loesch started working for a firm in 2013 where he earned his Series 7 & 63 licenses, but after a few years decided to make a change. “I was trying to figure out what to do…stick it out or enter a new chapter of my life,” he recalled.
At a friend’s suggestion, he took a trip to clear his mind, and it wound up being life changing. A conversation with another entrepreneur changed his trajectory, and after returning to New York City, Loesch quit his job and began months of research and development on a relatively new concept for Brooklyn and Staten Island: The Acai Bowl, featuring the fiber and antioxidant rich super fruit from Brazil.
He noticed that açai bowl shops were taking the West Coast by storm, and were moving east, so he decided to get involved. “A friend of my father’s was looking to rent a space or potentially open a juice bar,” he detailed. “After speaking, we agreed açai bowls were the next hot food trend.” Months of tinkering with recipes and store designs ensued and Loesch opened Baya Bar in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, on December 28th, 2016.
Baya, which means “berry” in Spanish, wasn’t his first choice for a name, but it ended up being perfect, as Baya Bar serves Acai bowls in multitude (priced $9 to $13), along with Pitaya bowls, Coconut bowls, Smoothies, Fresh & Cold Pressed Juices, Avocado Toast, Coffee & More. The concept’s success, in part, was attributable to the size and quality of the bowls.
“We focused on quality AND quantity for the same price as our competitors. I knew that this would negatively affect margins in the early days, but long term would help us gain market share as we expanded.” Loesch was right. Fast forward 6 years, and Baya Bar has gained a lot of market share with nearly 25 locations open and another 20+ under development. Loesch expects Baya Bar to reach 50 locations by the end of 2023. In addition, Baya Bar offers a colorful environment, with good music, and its signature palm trees convey a suitable sense of repose.
After a successful start in New York, Baya Bar has also moved into the Louisiana and Utah markets. “My vision is to see this brand across the nation, helping both consumers become more aware of what they are eating, and helping entrepreneurs start and maintain a successful business”.
BayaBar Continued Growth
With Baya Bar’s recent ranking of #1 Açai Bowl Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine and its Top 40 Franchise Ranking by QSR Magazine, the Baya Team is ready to take the brand to the next level in 2023!