NEWBERG, Ore. — Just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26, Micah Ritschard commuted back to Newberg from his engineering job in Hillsboro to join his wife, Jordyn, in the left suite of the Blue Trout Gallery. They’re both wearing workout gear with paint smears and splatters as they point out areas that need an extra coat.
The deep purple walls, previously a backdrop to Gary Buhler’s nature- and urban-inspired watercolors and acrylics, were disappearing under layers of white paint that Jordyn had spent the previous few days applying to match the branding of Gooseberry Açaí. The food cart business is moving into a brick-and-mortar location at 111 S. College St. in Newberg.
Community-supported journalism
This article was made possible by the generous support of Newsberg readers and advertisers. Independent local news takes real resources to produce. If Newsberg is valuable to you, please consider joining us — for as little as $1 a month, or with a one-time gift in any amount.
“It’s been an incredible summer every time we go out,” Jordyn said. “But our only bottleneck is us. That’s why I feel like having an established space will help us get more rhythm and consistency.”
Gooseberry Açaí launched in June, popping up around Newberg and Dundee at Berg Bites, The Hills Farmers Market, the Newberg Old Fashioned Festival, and more. In a June 2026 story published in Newsberg, Jordyn said she had made herself an açaí smoothie every morning for the past 10 years, and she has wanted to open an açaí business since noticing only a few places in Oregon consistently serve the nutrient-dense fruit.
“People genuinely have come up to us in the past few months and say that it’s the best açaí bowl they’ve ever had,” Jordyn said. “We had a regular within the first month, who comes to every event. Some of the regulars have said they want this more consistently, so we’re going to give them that option.”
They said the decision to go with a brick-and-mortar was not easy, but the timing felt right. For one, the weather is turning from warm summer days to crisp autumn and eventually to cold, rainy winter. It would be harder for them to keep the momentum going outside.
On top of that, Jordyn — a freelance videographer, graphic designer, and George Fox University graduate — thinks the concept appeals to students looking for something different from what is currently available on campus or in town.
Açaí, pronounced ah-sigh-ee, is the fruiting berry of the açaí palm tree, native to Central and South America. According to the National Kidney Foundation, the berries have a flavor somewhere between a raspberry and a blackberry and contain antioxidants, fiber, and heart-healthy fat. Gooseberry’s products are completely gluten-free, the owners said.]
“When I was a student at Fox, I would have wanted this,” she said. “We think this is a good spot, too, because there aren’t a lot of places to get a healthy snack like this downtown. It can be more than a snack, but also a snack.”
They are not rushing into the build-out, either. Jordyn said they plan to get the space cleaned up and code-compliant, but continue operating the business out of the cart while they focus on the larger task of building out the space to include a kitchen, cleaning area, more refrigeration, and some seating for customers. While their menu will not expand in the short term, they hope to add more options, toppings, and offerings when the kitchen build-out is completed.
The Ritschards said they were excited to be included in the downtown Newberg food and beverage community. As they paint and decorate, the Newberg Wednesday Market is buzzing across the street. People strolling down College Street poke their heads in and ask what is going on.
“I’ve heard a lot of pessimism about downtown since 2020,” said Jordyn, who has lived in Newberg since 2015. “So when we were looking for locations, we wanted to be here — we wanted to be a reason that someone comes downtown. I know one person can’t change everything, but we want to be a part of it.”
Buhler, owner of Blue Trout Gallery and the building at 111 S. College St., said his gallery moved to the alley side of the building, formerly where Uflora Plant Shop operated. After Uflora closed in 2023, he reclaimed the space for his gallery.
Jordyn said she had her eye on the gallery for a future storefront since developing the concept for Gooseberry, and one day she decided to walk in and ask Buhler if she could lease it.
“I wasn’t even ready for the day; I just saw that he was open and ran out the door,” Jordyn said. “After that, we pretty much fell right in, and what he proposed felt like something we could manage, and we decided to try it out.”
Gooseberry Açaí opened its doors for the first time on Saturday, Aug. 29. The owners said they’re still determining hours, but are attempting to open consistently Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on openings and hours, follow Gooseberry Açaí on Instagram, or visit gooseberryacai.com.
