Palm Berries franchisees Jeff and Becky Montie, along with neighbors Robbin and Jimmy McCullen, are preparing to expand the health-focused concept across North Carolina, with new locations planned for Quail Corners, Ballantyne, and Winston-Salem, Monte told WhatNow Charlotte during a recent interview.
The first confirmed location is planned for Quail Corners at 8428 Park Road in south Charlotte, with Montie saying the team is currently targeting a mid-June opening for the restaurant.
“We were really excited about Quail Corners,” Montie said. “It’s a strong community, and we felt like Palm Berries would be a natural fit there.”
Montie said the group is also preparing to open a second Palm Berries location in Ballantyne, at 16631 Lancaster Highway. “We hope to open this unit by late summer,” Montie said. A third location is currently in the works for Winston-Salem, with the team nearing a signed lease agreement for the site.
According to Montie, the decision to invest in Palm Berries came after he, his wife, and neighbors became regular customers of the brand.
“We just loved it,” Montie said. “The quality was there, the taste was there, and it became something we kept coming back for.”
Montie, who has spent years working in the food industry, said the experience reinforced one of the biggest lessons he has learned in hospitality — that product quality ultimately drives long-term success.
“If it’s not great-tasting food, people aren’t going to come back and buy it,” Montie said. “And if the quality is not there, people aren’t going to buy it. It all starts with the food and ends with the food.”
Palm Berries is known for its acai bowls, smoothies, and customizable menu centered around fresh ingredients and toppings.
“My wife and I really see ourselves as ambassadors for the product,” Montie said. “We believe in getting people to try it and experience it, while leaving the day-to-day operations in the hands of an experienced manager.”
“We want every community to be able to have a Palm Berries,” Montie said.
