Smoothies, acai bowls and more: Island Vibes Café debuts in Exeter

EXETER — Island Vibes Café is coming to Exeter, serving smoothies, acai bowls and more.

The café opened its second location, at 97 Lincoln Street at the former Exeter Clips, across from the laundromat. The 1,500-square-foot spot with bright green fixtures is hard to miss if you're traveling on Main and Lincoln streets.

Owner David Burns said the popularity of his Hampton shop made him want to expand into Exeter.

“I get a lot of DoorDash from the school, (Phillips) Exeter Academy,” said Burns. “I figured if I put one right around the corner from them, they could just walk over.”

From smoothies like Pink Panther (pitaya, mango, banana, lime juice and almond milk) to acai bowls like Atlantic Ocean (Blue Majik, banana, pineapple, topped with blueberry, strawberry, cacao nibs and bee pollen), Burns said the Exeter location will have all the Hampton favorites on the menu.

“There’s really no one in town that does the acai bowls the way I do them,” he said. “Everything we have is organic, even something as simple as the coconut chips… our peanut butter is ground fresh daily.”

While some blend their acai base with other products to enhance its sweetness, Burns said the ones he serves are pure and not blended with any additives.

“I’d get samples (from different companies) and then I’d let different people come into the store to try and say which one is better,” he said. “We narrowed it down to the product that I use now, and everybody loves it to the point where I was even having competitors come in and ask me what I was using.”

For something a little heartier, Island Vibes Café also serves Bright! Bowl (spinach, kale, romaine with cucumbers, bell peppers, shredded carrots, avocado, tomatoes, beets, scallions, hummus, with a lemon-turmeric vinaigrette), classic avocado toast and peanut butter toast with fruits and a topping.

For drinks, Island Vibes has coffee, classic hot and iced flavored lattes and teas, such as the Acai Blast (raspberry tea with pomegranate-acai) and Bahama Breeze (lemon tea with orange fruit punch, and passionfruit).

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A look inside Island Vibes Café in Exeter

Burns opened his first location in late August 2020. Then, it was called Hampton Nutrition, but Burns said he was never fond of the name.

“I couldn’t come up with a name for the life of me,” he said. “One of the girls that worked for me was like – I had a bowl for my smoothie bowls called ‘Island Vibes’ – why don’t you just call it Island Vibes, it looks like you’re on an island anyways.”

Burns said the Exeter spot is a two-story building. Since most of his customers order to-go, Burns said, for now, they will only be using the first floor for seating, which includes six to 10 bar-type chairs. He will also have outdoor seating, which accommodates up to 20 people.

Ultimately, Burns said he hopes to open up the second floor.

In his Hampton shop, Burns said he has over 160 different plants. The Exeter location will have the same signature greenery as well.

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Lincoln Street: Exeter's ‘next vibrant corridor’

Burns purchased the 97 Lincoln Street building last month. He said he knew that's where he wanted to be.

“I liked Lincoln Street because it’s just a little bit more laid back than downtown,” he said. “Downtown parking can be crazy… I literally went on Lincoln Street one day – I was on my motorcycle – and I was like, ‘Oh, look at this spot.’ I’ll take it.”

Island Vibes Cafe will be the sixth eatery within the 500-foot stretch of Lincoln Street (from the entrance off Main Street to Flamingos Coffee Bar).

Darren Winham, the town’s economic development director, said he believes "Lincoln Street would become Exeter's next vibrant corridor.”

“With the additions of Lexie's, Flamingos, Sidetracks and now Island Vibes, to popular staples Romeo's and the Trackside Cafe, there seems to be an eclectic mix of food options that should have a broad appeal to Lincoln Street visitors,” he said.

Burns said he’s excited about the new spot and becoming a part of the Exeter community.

“I always find that if you’re trying to get a goal or do something that is bigger than yourself, usually it works out,” he said. “With Island Vibes, I’ve come into a lot of hurdles, but something always comes in and helps me out at the last minute. You can’t wait for perfect timing, you just gotta do it.”

Island Vibes Café will be open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Island Vibes Café in Hampton opens second location in Exeter, NH