How this Toronto entrepreneur created the city's latest viral food obsession
The entrepreneur behind Toronto’s viral new self-serve acai bowl concept has been blown away by the response, but he always knew it would be a hit.
You can’t visit Stackt Market this summer without finding the entire place flooded with a sea of visitors armed with forest green cups full of brilliant indigo fro-yo.
Where are they coming from? Look no further than Haydn’s ā the unit that, more often than not, will boast a line snaking out the front door and around the corner.
To say that the self-serve acai bowl and frozen yogurt concept has made a splash in Toronto ever since it opened in early June of 2025 would be a major understatement. Within the space of a month, it’s become one of the most sought-after spots in the city, with eager eaters happily opting to line up for anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes just to get their hands on it.
Fareen Karim
Founder Haydn Wain-Lowe told Dished Toronto that the response has been nothing short of “incredible,” though, when the vision for the shop first struck him during a “soul-searching” trip to visit family in Australia, he had a pretty good idea that it would take off.
“While in Australia, my family introduced me to the frozen yogurt and acai bowl scene, which has exploded in recent years,” Haydn explains. “I was blown away. Lines out the door. Thrilled customers. Delicious, fully customizable products, as healthy or decadent as you like.”
Upon returning to Toronto and finding that the city had nothing of the like (a reality that Haydn says “upset” him), he decided to take matters into his own hands, bolstered by the desire to bring more welcoming and inclusive spaces to the city, while also introducing its residents to the self-serve fro-yo and acai scene.
“I’d just quit my job, I had someĀ experience in food entrepreneurship, and I was looking for a new career that I was passionate about,” Haydn explains. “I made the jump!”
And jump he did. Not quite ready to be shackled to a multi-year lease on a brick-and-mortar space in Toronto, he settled on Stackt, which allowed him to sign a five-month lease, and partnered with Big Guppy Media to “bring the concept to life.”
“I tried to keep my startup costs low, so I handled the design and branding elements myself, with advice from family,” he tells Dished Toronto. “Facebook Marketplace was amazing for sourcing used equipment.”
Just as it had in Australia, the concept proved a smash hit in the city, with word spreading like wildfire (largely thanks to social media) about the novel new spot for acai bowls in Toronto.
Fareen Karim
It’s not hard to see how Haydn’s has become a must-visit so quickly. The self-serve concept itself is nostalgic to many who grew up on staple self-serve frozen yogurt shops like Menchie’s and Yogurty’s, which, despite still having a few locations in operation across Ontario, have largely disappeared from the city’s landscape.
On top of that, there’s an added quasi-health-food element that appeals to an even broader demographic than those merely looking for dessert. Acai bowls have been steadily gaining in popularity across North America for about a decade now, and Haydn’s offers them as an option alongside fro-yo basics like tart yogurt, vanilla, and chocolate.
Following that, you’re in complete control of making your bowl as indulgent or as health-conscious as you’d like. Top it with granola, various nut butters and fresh fruit, and you’ve got yourself a perfect post-workout breakfast. Opt for chocolate fro-yo and slap on brownie chunks and popping boba pearls, and your spoonfuls will transport you back in time to Menchie’s glory days. It’s all in your control.
Though Haydn was confident the concept would be a hit, he told Dished Toronto that the speed with which word got out is what was truly staggering to him.
“I had enough confidence in our product, location, and customer experience to expect a good summer and maybe some social media hype,” Haydn says. “But to have lines out the door two weeks after opening? That’s wild.”
Haydn Wain-Lowe (Fareen Karim)
It’s been a tall order to keep up with production when the demand has so far exceeded what Haydn was initially anticipating, but, thanks to the help of friends and family, he told Dished Toronto that he’s been able to scale accordingly, and even begin to plan for the future of Haydn’s once the Stackt lease is up.
For now, the plans are being kept strictly under wraps, but Haydn told Dished Toronto, “the good news is we’re definitely sticking around!” They’ve got their eyes on neighbourhoods in Toronto like Little Italy, Ossington, Yorkville, and Liberty Village, and ultimately hope to build Haydn’s into the go-to hangout in whatever neighbourhood they’re in.
“My vision for Haydn‘s is centred around building community,” Haydn explains. “Somewhere people look forward to visiting and always feel welcome. I’d love for folk to meet up and enjoy themselves at their local Haydn‘s. Hence the phrase ‘meet me at Haydn‘s’ painted on our wall.”
For now, you can visit Haydn’s at Stackt Market Tuesday through Sunday all summer long.
Haydn’s
Address:Ā Stackt Market ā 28 Bathurst St., Toronto
Still hungry? Discover Dished Toronto on TikTok