Açai Express, the Puerto Rico–born superfood chain, appears to be zeroing in on Miami’s Design District for its next splashy landing. Permit activity points to a ground-floor shop at 3900 Biscayne Boulevard, though the company has not yet circled a date on the calendar. The brand is best known for thick, premium “grade A” açaí bowls loaded with fruit and granola, along with pitaya and mango bowls, smoothies, fruit popsicles and artisanal toasts. Local franchisees have been steadily pushing the concept across Florida and the broader Southeast.
Permit Filings Point to a Design District Storefront
Sanguilly Enterprises LLC has filed permit applications with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to open an Açai Express at 3900 Biscayne Boulevard, as reported by WhatNow. The outlet notes that, for now, there is no announced opening date. Town records also show a SANGUILY ENTERPRISES LLC doing business as “ACAI EXPRESS,” tying the local operator to the brand in South Florida (Town of Miami Lakes vendor list).
Where It Would Sit
The 3900 Biscayne Boulevard address is home to the Quadro at Design District condominium, a 12-story building with planned ground-floor retail in the heart of the Design District. Quadro at Design District sits between Midtown and Wynwood and has been marketed with high-end retail and dining in mind. That ground-floor layout makes the site a logical fit for quick-service concepts such as Açai Express, especially for shoppers and condo residents looking for something colder than a latte.
From Puerto Rico to South Florida
Açai Express was founded in 2013 by Héctor Westerband in Puerto Rico, and the brand has grown through a mix of franchising and company-owned openings, according to the company's franchise site (Açai Express franchise page). The concept leans on premium açaí and a compact, scalable footprint that works for both brick-and-mortar locations and mobile formats. Local operators with prior regional experience, including the Sanguily sisters who opened an Açai Express on Main Street in Miami Lakes in 2022, have helped fuel the brand's Florida expansion, per coverage in the Miami Laker.
What Comes Next
With permit applications on file, the usual next steps are plan reviews, inspections and licensing before any build-out and signage go up. The timeline will hinge on approvals and construction schedules. For now, the address and filings point to the brand’s intention to add another quick-service option to the Design District, but a firm opening date is still to be determined.
