'We're all in': Mia Cane Juicery and Acai Bar a delight for sugarcane devotees
Mia Cane Juicery and Acai Bar is a startup that opened in late August at 261 Park Ave., Worcester, bringing a line of fresh-pressed sugarcane juice drinks to both sugarcane devotees who grew up on the deeply nostalgic drink and first-time customers.
Husband and wife team Tuan and Tiki Nguyen of Worcester and Tuan Lam, formerly of Worcester, are owners who leased the Park Avenue space in July 2022 and began renovations in October of the same year. The photography shop L.B. Wheaton (now on Suffolk Street in Worcester) and the Neil Rosenblum Goldsmiths Gallery (closed) were longtime tenants in the Park Avenue building, currently owned by Enton Mehillaj and wife, Oriola Koci. The well-known restaurateurs operate Altea’s Eatery next door at 259 Park Ave., and also founded Livia’s Dish, 1394 Main St., Worcester. They sold Livia’s Dish in 2022 and remain property owners.
Worcester entrepreneur Tuan Nguyen and Lam are friends who initially talked about going into business together. The Nguyens are foodies who love to travel and try different foods. “We believed the juice bar concept would be a good fit in the city,” said Tuan Nguyen, who credited Lam with first laying the groundwork for the business. “We knew that to be successful it would require hard work, creativity and a passion for fresh food,” said Nguyen. “We’re all in.” Husband and wife work in the business and believe their startup is the first of its kind on the East Coast.
Fresh-pressed sugarcane juice has a “cult-like” stature in Southeast Asian cultures, according to the Nguyens, who said its beloved for its subtly sweet flavor and natural health benefits. It reportedly contains calcium, iron and vitamin C, with no added sugar. Nguyen said there are people who believe it aids in digestion and boosts immunity. It’s not considered a mainstream drink in the United States.
In Vietnam, sugarcane juice is a popular and refreshing drink sold at street stalls. “It’s bright yellow and served in a cup filled with ice,” said Nguyen. “It’s similar to drinking lemonade in the U.S. When we told relatives in Vietnam about our business some of them thought we were opening a lemonade stand before we explained our concept.”
Nguyen said the response he and his wife are getting from some customers is, “I haven’t had sugarcane since I was growing up in my home country, or I haven’t had it for 20 years. It brings back so many memories.”
The Worcester business makes the juice fresh to order, feeding sugarcane stalks through an industrial machine to extract the juice. It’s enhanced by the flavor of fruit juices like passion fruit and pineapple and can be mixed with coconut water or milk, lychee, dragon fruit, strawberry or pennywort juices, depending on what your taste dictates. Mia Cane has 12 different sugarcane- based juice drinks, with OG Mia, already a customer favorite. The drink combines sugarcane and calamansi, a citrus fruit with a tart flavor combination of lemon, lime and orange. It’s delicious and refreshing. The owners researched different types of ice to use in drinks before deciding on nugget or “pebble” ice, soft and chewable. Nguyen and his partner source sugarcane from their own farm located outside the U.S.
Acai build-your-own bowls feature a superfruit acai berry puree with toppings you eat with a spoon. Described as “organic, natural and gluten-free,” customers choose from small, regular and large size, adding toppings like organic house granola, honey oat granola, toasted coconut, goji berry, almonds, roasted sunflower seeds, peanut butter crumbs, Nido (milk powder), peanut butter, blueberry, banana, strawberry, honey, or condensed milk. There’s an extra cost for almond butter or Nutella toppings.
The menus at Mia Cane Juicery and Acai Bar hold great appeal for local college students, said Tiki Nguyen, and the recent stART on the Street festival on Park Avenue helped boost sales. She estimated about 500 new customers walked through the door. “It was a wonderful event and the people were great,” said Nguyen.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The space accommodates 16 at tables and window counter. Eat-in or take-out. Delivery options coming soon. Telephone: (508) 304-6755; Connect on Facebook. There is on street parking and parking spaces in back of the building. The business employs 16, mostly college students who work part-time. Friendly and welcoming staff in an inclusive environment. The interior uses light colors and has warm elements. Ari Phillippi, owner of Sparkle on Park, a full-service flower shop next to Mia Cane Juicery, helped with the faux greenery floral design.
The Nguyens are approaching the finish line of a website project. They also plan to offer Vietnamese specialty coffees in the fall, in addition to a few snack products, currently being taste tested by staff.
Tuan Nguyen, whose parents came to the city from Vietnam, graduated from Worcester State College. He and his wife, a Boston native, have been married five years “after knowing each other for 15 years.” In free time, they love to try new restaurants. Super friendly, they easily engage in conversation with customers. Franchising is a goal.
Another small business on the road to success.
If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Table Hoppin': Mia Cane Juicery and Acai Bar opens up on Park Avenue
