Sobol Acai Bowls and Beyond: Free Acai bowls for 2 hours Thursday in New Dorp

(Courtesy of Sobol)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Entrepreneur Avi Shaiovici helps newcomers pronounce "açaí" -- the mainstay of Sobol Acai Bowls and Beyond in West Brighton and New Dorp.

"It's 'a-saa-yeee,'" he said.

The berry is considered to be a super fruit, bursting with antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.

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(Courtesy of Avi Shaiovici)

Shaiovici and business partner, Genarro Scarpati, along with Sobol's CEO and founder Jason Mazzarone will dole out free tastes of the colorful, fruity bowls on Thursday.

The date marks the grand opening of their second Sobol spot at 284 New Dorp Lane.

Guests who step into the new digs between 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. are entitled to a sample of the franchise's premier product.

Sobol also sells smoothies, "green" bowls (blended kale and spinach are the base), pitaya bowls (fruit purees with an assortment of health-minded toppings and granola), and Belgian waffles with a variety of additions from blueberries and bananas to the store's signature nut butters.

Dishes can be gluten-free, nut-free, vegan and dairy-free.

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(Courtesy of Avi Shaiovici)

"We're extremely excited," Shaiovici said. "I just love Staten Island. I think you have a mix of everything here. I like the diversity."

And he loves New Dorp Lane for Sobol's new home because of its pedestrian traffic and proximity to New Dorp High School and Staten Island Tech.

It also sits smack in the midst of multiple beauty businesses. Sobol's patrons, Shaiovici said, are mostly young people and women.

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(Courtesy of Avi Shaiovici)

"Guys won't admit they like to eat it, so they'll send their wife or girlfriend in to buy it. It's funny, but it's true," he said.

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(Courtesy of Avi Shaiovici)

New Dorp's Sobol is larger than its West Brighton sister shop located at 480 Forest Ave.; 718-727-6265.

The new store features countertop seating plus stools set at two tables.

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(Courtesy of Avi Shaiovici)

Both stores highlight hand-built wooden details in the decor, a nod to the craftsmanship of the Sobol product.

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(Courtesy of Avi Shaiovici)

How did Sobol get its name?

Shaiovici explained that the Long Island-born business used to be called Super Bowl.

Due to NFL associations and customers using the word "so" to describe the product -- "so good," "so beautiful," "so healthy," etc. -- the owners decided to change the name to combine "so" with an abbreviation of the word "bowl."

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Sobol is located at 284 New Dorp Lane and can be reached at 718-667-6265, MySobol.com. Hours will be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and soon the restaurant will deliver to the East Shore through Grub Hub.

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