17-year-old entrepreneur opens açaí food truck in Port Huron

17-year-old entrepreneur Nicholas Robbins always had a passion for health and fitness.

When he was in the sixth grade, Robbins struggled with being overweight so he set a goal for himself to eat healthier and exercise frequently, which helped to improve his overall health.  

Six years later, as a recent graduate of Port Huron Northern High School, Robbins still has the same spirit. In April Robbins opened Port Huron Açaí, his first food truck located at 522 Michigan St. in Port Huron.

“I wanted to carry on that passion for health to people in my community, and I thought the food truck would be a great way to do that,” Robbins says. 

Port Huron Açaí specializes in açaí bowls and smoothies. The bowls contain an açai base that is topped with fresh fruit, granola, and a drizzle of the customer’s choice. For a $1 upcharge, customers can add extra toppings and drizzles to their bowl including coconut flakes, cacao nibs, hemp seeds, chia seeds, peanut butter, almond butter, Nutella, and any fruit. 

For smoothies, Robbins uses frozen fruit – strawberries, bananas, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries, depending on the smoothie, blended with almond milk. Customers can add a plant-based protein powder to enhance their smoothie – chocolate or peanut butter flavored. 

Robbins says he utilized the co-op program at his high school to spend the last two hours of his school day working the food truck. Now that he is a graduate, he is hoping to open the food truck earlier during the weekdays so customers can start their morning with a healthy breakfast.

With plans of attending the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in the fall, Robbins is hoping to hire staff so he can focus more on his studies.

“I’m thinking of doing something through the co-op program at Port Huron Northern where I’ll be having high school students help run the food truck,” Robbins says. “We can also teach them how to do the finances and everything that goes along with running the business, including working at it.”

In the future, Robbins hopes to be more involved with community events, giving residents opportunities to try his açaí bowls and smoothies. Overall, he says he is thankful for the support from his family, especially his mother, in making his dream become a reality. 

“It’s rewarding watching him grow. I’m so proud, as a mom. To see other people excited about it, makes me really happy,” says Andrea Robbins-Margeas, Robbins’ mother.

For more information about Port Huron Açaí and to stay up-to-date on hours and offerings, visit facebook.com/porthuronacai.