Quickfire Q&A: Coco Pipa

Coco Pipa owners Lizzy Fowler and Isaac Bol are partners in business and life, sharing a passion for nourishing the community in body, mind, and spirit. As they approach their first anniversary in business, we checked in to see how the last year has treated them and what lies ahead for this dynamic duo.

Feast Unwrapped: As part of your mission statement, you explain that Coco Pipa isn’t just about serving healthy food, it’s also about creating moments of wellness that help people recharge. How has that resonated with your customers?

Coco Pipa: People feel it the moment they step inside. Coco Pipa doesn’t move with the rhythm of a typical fast-food shop. It’s slower, warmer and more intentional. There’s a pulse to the space that says, take a breath, stay a while. And we encourage people to lean into that sense of calm.

We’ve designed every detail to offer something deeper than just a meal. The flavors are bold and layered, drawing from the spirit of different cultures and places we’ve known and loved. There’s a global soul to everything we serve, and it shows up in the little things – a spice that lingers, a texture that surprises, a mural that makes you feel like you’ve been transported.

Customers tell us all the time they feel the difference. This isn’t food that rushes you out the door. It’s food that restores you. That grounds you. It makes your taste buds dance and your body say thank you. And that’s the point. Real nourishment can’t be rushed, and at Coco Pipa, we’re committed to making every bite feel like care. It’s beautiful to see.

Feast Unwrapped: Another goal of Coco Pipa is to provide healthy foods at a reasonable price to make them accessible to all. How difficult has it been to keep price points low given the rising cost of food, and have you had to make any changes to your menu to keep costs down?

Coco Pipa: It’s been one of the hardest parts of running this business because affordability isn’t just a nice idea to us. It’s the heartbeat of Coco Pipa. We opened our doors with the belief that everyone deserves access to real nourishment, not just those who can afford to shop at boutique health stores or wellness chains. Our affordability model works.

But over the past few months, national policies and global tariffs have made it brutally difficult to maintain that promise. The cost of fresh, quality ingredients keeps rising, and small businesses like ours are shouldering the burden with very little support.

Still, we’ve done everything we can to protect our model. And because of that commitment, something powerful has happened. Our customers aren’t just stopping by occasionally. Many are coming four or five times a week, because they’ve finally found a place where nutrition is accessible, consistent and actually within reach. That’s what keeps us going.

But we also understand sustainability matters. We believe in progress over profits, but we’re realistic about what it will take to keep this business, and our mission, alive. Modest price increases may be necessary in the future, not out of choice, but out of survival. To help offset those costs for our customers, we’re also exploring the creation of a nonprofit arm of Coco Pipa. That would allow us to pursue grants and funding that keep healthy food affordable and accessible to those who need it most.

This work is personal. It’s about our community, our values, and our belief that wellness is a right, not a luxury. We’re doing everything in our power to make sure that never changes.

Feast Unwrapped: Have you encountered any limitations due to space?

Coco Pipa: Definitely. Especially when it comes to seating. But that limitation is also part of what gives Coco Pipa its soul. We knew we were working with a small footprint, so we built with purpose. We even crafted the bar ourselves, cutting bamboo by hand in Fayetteville and piecing it together one stalk at a time. That level of care shows up in every detail of the space. The space is small, but it feels full of energy, of care, of connection. It’s tight, but it brings people closer. And in a way, that intimacy is what makes the experience memorable. We’ve noticed that people aren’t just grabbing something to go, they’re stepping into something that was built with love.

And now, with our backyard oasis opening on May 11, we’re excited to give our community a little more room to breathe with more space to sit, connect, and take in the energy that makes Coco Pipa what it is.

Feast Unwrapped: What’s it like working with your partner all day, every day?

Coco Pipa: It’s one of the greatest gifts, and also one of the biggest growth moments of our lives. We’re building something that’s not just a reflection of our shared vision, but of who we are to each other. There’s a deep love at the center of it all – you see it in the way we dance through the space together, laughing, checking in, catching each other’s rhythm. We lift each other up when one of us is running low, and we celebrate the little wins as a team. It’s not always perfect, but it’s full of care, intention, and a kind of love that holds everything together.

What customers don’t see is that we’re navigating pressure, decisions, and long days together, but we’ve learned how to stay grounded in the love that started this whole thing. We know when to push, when to pause, and when to just stop and laugh at how wild and beautiful this journey is. Working side by side, building something that’s ours – it’s intimate, it’s challenging, and it’s incredibly special.

Feast Unwrapped: You’re coming up on your first anniversary – do you have anything planned to celebrate or any changes coming in year two? 

Coco Pipa: This year has been incredible. We’ve built so much from the ground up, but it’s the love from this community that’s kept us going. People have shown up for us in ways we’ll never forget and we’re beyond grateful.

To celebrate, we’re throwing a party on June 28 with live jazz in the backyard by the legendary Benny Hill. It’s our way of saying thank you and sharing a full day and night of joy with everyone who’s been part of this journey.

We also just launched the Coco Pipa Juice Cart, which lets us hit the road, cater, and pop up at places like Greenfield Lake Amphitheater and Live Oak Pavilion. And back at the shop, we’re opening our backyard oasis with garden beds full of herbs, veggies, and healing plants – completely free for the community. We’re also adding a yoga/wellness deck and hosting live music and art pop-ups all summer long.

Year two is about growing the love, staying rooted in our mission, and finding even more ways to give back to the people who’ve poured into us.