Some might think of Fuzzbee’s an ordinary açaí shop. Little do they know it’s been over 30 years in the making.
Located right down the road from Ransom Everglades, Fuzzbee’s is a bustling restaurant that surges with business from locals and students. Picture this: the clock has just struck 3:45, and a rush of RE students floods Main Highway. On any given day, any of them will end up at Fuzzbee’s. Students have praised its welcoming environment and reasonable prices, which have made it a go-to.
“There’re very welcoming. I would say the biggest thing that makes it unique is its specialized bowls,” said Reisha Yavagal ’27, a frequent customer.
As co-founder and CEO Karin Gongee put it, “We really hate to brag, but we really have the best açaí ever. We don’t mix it, it already comes to us that way, it’s organic, and all we really need to do is garnish it with some fresh fruits.”
The açaí craze in Miami is absolutely tremendous. From Pura Vida to Ernie’s, there are over 20 different small restaurants specializing in açaí in Miami.
As regular customer and açaí connoisseur Nica Roseberg ’28 said, “Of course, the food is absolutely delicious, but the environment of the restaurant just lightens my mood. It lightens a ton of people’s moods, which is why so many people go.”
The story behind this local Coconut Grove business is rooted in family history. The idea behind Fuzzbee’s was sparked by two Swedish and Lebanese immigrants: Karin and her partner Farouk Gongee.
Fuzzbee’s cofounder Farouk Gongee was surrounded by cooking from a young age. Born in Washington, D.C. in 1951, Farouk moved to Lebanon, where he developed a love for cooking as he looked up to his father, who prepared a homecooked meal every night. “In our home, as I was growing up and when I came back to the States, we always had a full course dinner prepared for us, and it was always him who prepared it,” Farouk shared.
Once he moved back to the States from Lebanon, Farouk began college. He studied for a year and a half but found himself in a challenging phase of life. He did not enjoy college, nor was he passionate about his classes, so he decided to take some time off, unaware this would be a pivotal part of his future.
Farouk took a few years’ sabbatical where he traveled all over the world and fell in love with the practice of meditation, one of his many inspirations when opening Fuzzbee’s with his wife and co-founder, Karin. He practiced four meditation techniques that enhanced his senses, including sight and hearing, and taught him how to take in his surroundings. When he returned from the sabbatical, he was at a crossroads with what to do with his life.
“And then when I came back, I thought, geez, you know, I never finished college, so if I have to start all over again, that’s another seven, eight years… So I said, I’ll just go into business,” Farouk said. He opened a restaurant in Bethesda, Maryland called Brenleta, which means “vine of love.” He served a vegetarian sandwich called the Fuzzbee, which cost $1.30.
After opening five locations of Brenlata, the couple decided to move to Miami and open what is now Fuzzbee’s. “The name originated from a close friend and musician. Fuzzbee was a nickname of a friend of mine who is an amazing, amazing musician, who’s played with probably the top entertainers in the country,” Farouk explained.
While the cuisine at Fuzzbee’s isn’t directly inspired by Farouk and Karin’s Lebanese and Swedish cultures, their healthy lifestyle has influenced the cuisine they serve and the demographic they cater to. The restaurant was inspired by how conscientious Farouk was with about his health during his sabbatical.
Originally, Karin and Farouk leased a different location on the same street in 2019, not knowing what obstacle was ahead. Then they faced a universal challenge, COVID, and had to postpone their opening by two years. They also had to change locations in those two years because the owners were selling the building.
When asked what advice Karin and Farouk would give, they both said to do extensive research prior to opening a business. Farouk said, “And if you don’t make it the first time, no big deal. You’ve got time. I encourage people to work for themselves.”
While owning Fuzzbee’s has been a whirlwind of excitement and new beginnings, it was solely meant to be a part time job while Karin and Farouk enjoyed their lives in retirement. It has ended up being a job and a half, but they wouldn’t trade their life for the world. “Life is short, unpredictable,” he said. “I just love that we get to spend every day together.”
