302 Acai opens on Route 1 outside Rehoboth Beach

A year after selling the last of his 15 vacuum sales and repairs businesses, longtime local business owner Matthew McKay is back with a new business – 302 Acai.

“I like serving people and, frankly, it’s nice to be back in the area,” said McKay.

Open for about a week, McKay said he and his family love acai bowls, and after doing some research on the product, he decided to open a food trailer selling acai bowls, smoothies, energy drinks and homemade popsicles.

At one point, McKay owned vacuum stores in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, but he began selling off the stores in the late 2000s so he could focus more on his family. He sold the original store – located in Rehoboth and the last one still under his ownership – last year.

“I’ve always been self-employed and was looking for something to do,” said McKay on why he’s gotten back into owning a business.

The new business is located in a familiar setting for McKay – Route 1 outside Rehoboth Beach in the same shopping center as Touch of Italy, Outlet Liquors and the vacuum shop he used to own.

People can get acai bowls in downtown Rehoboth, Lewes and Dewey, but there’s no place out on the highway, said McKay.

McKay said it took about three months of experimentation at home to get the right level of consistency for his product. The most important part of an acai bowl is the base, and this base tastes good, scoops well and has great texture when being eaten, he said.

As customers continue to provide feedback, McKay said he’s open to expanding the menu. That’s the ‘‘and such” part of the menu, but he doesn’t know what that will be yet, he said, laughing.

He wants 302 Acai to be a part of the local community and will be setting aside 10% of daily sales toward a donation to a local nonprofit. Right now, the nonprofit is the Boardwalk Buddy Walk program, but it will change as other groups are nominated, he said.

302 Acai, 19730 Coastal Hwy., is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. McKay said the trailer is mobile, and can be rented for school and church events, ball teams and more. It’s powered by solar panels, so it can be set up anywhere, he said.

“302 Acai is good for the environment and it’s good for your health,” said McKay.

For more information, go to 302acai.com, call 302-342-6128 or email 302AcaiDE@gmail.com.