After 23 years as a women's soccer coach at Trinity College, Michael Smith embarked on another business he believes promotes health.
Smith and his wife, Christine Neville Smith, opened a franchise of Nautical Bowls, a meal replacement or snack containing “superfoods.”
The bowl starts by choosing foods like sorbet that are free of gluten, soy, dairy, and refined sugar. All are plant-based.
The store carries 12 specialty bowls, but customers can also create their own.
Customers can choose one of five flavors, including blueberry, banana, strawberry, mango, acai, freshly ground peanut butter, almond butter, chia seeds, goji berries, pumpkin seeds, cashews, coconut flakes, and granola. Choose from healthy toppings. And cocoa butter.
Special smoothies are also available.
After Michael Smith retired in 2019, the Smiths wanted to start their own business.
After doing a lot of research, they settled on Nautical Bowls, a fast-growing company from Minnesota.
“We wanted to provide the community with a delicious and nutritious meal replacement,” said Michael Smith.
The store recently opened at 2527 Albany Avenue in Bishop's Corner in West Hartford.
“I love it,” Michael Smith said. “You get to meet a lot of new people, interesting people, and a great staff of unique kids.”
Michael Smith said the company has franchises across the country and is “working its way to the East Coast.”
According to him, about 60 Nautical Bowls stores are currently open, and about 150 are in the process of opening.
“It's a growing brand. Our goal is to reach 1,000 people,” he said.
He said the bowl is suitable for people looking for healthy meal alternatives.
Michael Smith said the company is called Nautical Bowls because it was founded in Minnesota, a state known as “the land of 10,000 lakes.”
The West Hartford store is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
