Mamaka Bowls
Mamaka Bowls
Imagine a warm, summer day, sitting along the Trinity River, watching runners and casual walkers alike stroll by while you enjoy a cold, refreshing smoothie bowl.
It's a tough sell when it's 30 degrees in the middle of December, but come 2021, WestBend will be ready for warmer temperatures with its newest shop opening in the space once occupied by Marine Layer.
Mamaka Bowls will open at 1701 River Run, hopefully in March, says owner KK Hudson. This will be the shop's third location; Mamaka first opened in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and then Waco before landing in Fort Worth.
The shop specializes in bowls and smoothies, as well as a secret-recipe granola and espresso-based drinks. Hudson particularly recommends the drip coffee, infused with coconut.
The name Mamaka is a combination of Hudson's and her siblings' names — Macy, Mac, and KK. Hudson, who hails from Dallas, has fond memories of spending summers at Laguna Beach, California, where she and her family would enjoy acai bowls every day. Smoothie bowl shops were scarce in Dallas when Hudson was growing up, so her mom would make them at home and take them to her high school, where they became a big hit.
Hudson eventually restarted the company while studying at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, creating a website from which customers can order online and pick up at Hudson's doorstep. The bowls became so popular, Hudson and her mother decided to open their first store in Fayetteville.
But now, Hudson says she's glad to bring the concept back to the DFW area.
"Having two stores totally blew our mind that that was even a possibility. When it became clear that we could have a third, we looked at a couple different areas — we love the vibe and the culture of Fort Worth," she says. "Being from Dallas, we've always loved the people here ... Fort Worth is really booming in a lot of different ways."
