Berry & Batter co-owner Fatema Abdoo enjoys a Belgian waffle in Brussels during a 2022 trip.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
NORTHAMPTON — Berry & Batter has opened its doors downtown and is serving the people of Northampton acai bowls and Belgian waffles in a unique addition to the downtown food scene.
Owned by siblings Fatema and Salim Abdoo, the shop was brainstormed out of their passions for traveling and wanting to bring a more European-style eatery to their location at 76 Main St. Fatema told Reminder Publishing the endeavor combines ingredients from a variety of cultures and includes healthy options as well as some sweet treats.
From backpacking adventures across the globe, Fatema realized a true passion of hers was enjoying amazing desserts shared with company. From the streets of Belgium, to the sun-soaked corners of South America, acai bowls and waffles emerged as favorites, eventually stemming into this idea for the café.
“I had such a fulfilling time there and I felt like so happy and that I was living,” Fatema said. “Now that I’m back in the states trying to reset a little bit, I still want to have those memories and those moments with me and I want to recreate that for other people the best way I can.”
Fatema was born in Springfield with some of her seven siblings being born in Lebanon before the family had moved to America. With their cultural background, the café boasts online inspiration from it and their efforts to include waffles and acai bowls that are made with ingredients that honor both heritage and adventure.
So far since opening on April 5, Berry & Batter has seen a good amount of interested snackers pop in and Fatema added it has been great to see the community get comfortable with the new space that was formally the Northampton Box Office Tickets storefront.
“I love seeing people sit there. Yesterday someone came in with their daughter and they were doing homework,” Fatema said. “It’s so fulfilling to me.”
The wide variety of creation that can be made through either option from Berry & Batter makes for a unique dining experience that can be enjoyed comfortable inside the cozy storefront, or on the run. Fatema hopes the healthy and sweet treats offered will help make Berry & Batter a mainstay of downtown.
“The waffles and acai bowl, every time I think of them, I remember so many moments in my life and it makes me really happy,” Fatema said. “The creativity behind them, they’re such simple desserts but I think it’s fun to create and dress them up while also paying homage to other memories or parts of myself.
Another unique feature of the new café is its 9 p.m. closing time, something Fatema wanted as an effort to offer more options downtown through the evening and into night.
“I remember when I was younger so many places would be open later and that’s what I miss. I feel like we’re the only ones open. It gets really quiet on the street at 6, 7 [p.m.],” Fatema said. “It’s a cool concept because you can have a waffle in the morning as a nice breakfast treat, but also a late night, warm waffle, is so satisfying. And a fresh acai bowl, people love those especially with the summer coming up.”
Fatema added she and her family are thrilled to have secured this location in Northampton’s downtown and feels that Berry & Batter makes a great match for the city.
“I was just set on Northampton right away when we figured out the concept,” Fatema explained. “I thought it was the perfect place because of the community, the inclusivity, the support, it’s literally a small business hub. People want to support when they know that they’re a small business and it’s woman-owned, first generation. I was really nervous going into it and being like, it’s my first time doing this, are people open to helping us stay afloat?’ And the community has been outstanding. People have come in and said we’re so happy you’re here.”
Berry & Batter will also be offering catering opportunities and are looking to be a part of interested community celebrations. For more information on catering, email info@berrybatter.com. For a look at the menu and learn more about Fatema and her family’s story, visit berrybatter.com.
Fatema reiterated her and the family’s excitement to have opened up the new café and look forward to sharing healthy and sweet treats with the community at large.
“We come from a big family, so we have the team. It’s really incredible to have the opportunity and have things align in the way they did,” Fatema said. “We’re really excited to be here and I think we picked the perfect place.”
