LEWISTON — If you walk into the Lewiston Live Well food place off of the village’s Center Street, you see hand-drawn art hanging on the walls and album covers lining the kitchen.
It’s a unique style for a unique place run by Emily Fotlz and Andrew Boudeman. Having opened at 155 Portage Road in June 2024, it is still a wholly original place in its part of Niagara County, offering bubble tea and acai bowls where the other closest options are in Niagara Falls.
“We worked at a similar place, but we didn’t exactly like the business model,” Foltz said. Both Foltz and Boudeman are originally from Newfane. “We wanted to do our own thing and do it in a better way.”
The two started by taking over Broadway Nutrition in Lancaster in 2020 and opening up LKPT Energy House in Lockport. Both had the same business plan and offerings, and the couple wanted a spot in Lewiston, too.
“We’ve always wanted to open in Lewiston, but I just think the timing wasn’t there,” Foltz said.
Eventually, they came across a former computer repair store and real estate office on Portage Road. With renovations starting in 2023 and finishing in June 2024, Foltz and Bouderman’s attention then focused on their Lewiston operation full-time. The two other businesses were sold and closed this past January.
Apart from the bubble teas and energy drinks that are primarily advertised on social media, they also serve acai bowls, flatbread pizzas, salads and protein shakes. All of the offerings are zero-sugar, a majority are gluten-free, and vegan alternatives are available.
“Originally, the acai bowls weren’t our main focus,” Foltz said. “It was mainly just the drinks, the bubble teas. Then we kind of dabbled in it, and now it’s our best-seller.”
Aside from Foltz and Boudeman, her mother and several of their cousins also staff the place.
As part of their business, the two also operate the Lewiston Live Well Energy Wagon, a food truck decked in bright Hawaiian colors that appears at festivals and events across Western New York with the same food offerings.
In the nearly two years of being open, Foltz said business is going well, with social media playing a big part in their advertising. In addition to being at community events, they also give back by cooking food for homeless shelters.
She said they are still focusing on building up their Lewiston base for now, but would want to franchise this out to warmer locations.