MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette Simply Bowls sells meals at a recent stop.

With summertime at the area’s doorstep, residents will once again be looking to battle the heat, and according to owner and operator Amsa Courtney, Simply Bowls food truck has the tasty treats to help do just that.

Courtney previously worked as manager at Chipotle, and had prior food experience from working alongside her father, though she always had an eye towards owning her own business.

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset, and this was the first one that I was super motivated to do,” she said.

Courtney said her parents were an incredible help in getting set up.

“I’m lucky because I’ve had my parents help me and direct me, like, ‘hey, you need this,” she said.

“I’ve had to research some things, because each county is different with where you can park and the licensing you need, but it’s been pretty smooth,” Courtney explained, although when she first got the truck, she was less than impressed.

“When I got the truck, I didn’t like the color, but we kept it, and it actually fits perfectly. I can’t see it in any other color. It just pops,” she said.

While operating a food truck provided Courtney a business without the commitment of a building, the biggest advantage has been being able to bring her offerings directly to the people.

“I like the aspect of going to different locations and gaining new customers,” she said.

Simply Bowls hit the road on June 1, 2024, and quickly built up a strong following.

When deciding on what food to other from the truck, acai bowls were a no brainer.

“I love acai bowls,” Courtney said, adding that until recently, the closest place to get one was in Harrisburg.

“We always got them in Florida, and they were delicious. It’s healthy, it’s clean, it’s perfect, and in the summertime, it’s refreshing, but you can eat them all year round,” she said.

“We’ll have customers come back to us after being away on vacation, and it’s cool to hear their feedback, because this was their first time experiencing it, and now they’re looking forward to trying it in other places,” Courtney said.

For customer convenience, pre-ordering is available at select locations through Simply Bowls’ website.

Though Courtney said they kept their menu limited due to the fast paced nature of food trucks, Simply Bowls has a variety of options, including the ability to customize the bowls.

“Our acai base is definitely the favorite, and I think that’s just because it’s well known,” Courtney said.

“Our All Around Acai is a big favorite. That just has granola, bananas, strawberries and honey, and our Berry Blast is popular and that’s made with granola, bananas, blueberries, honey and raspberry. They’re very simple, and just an easy go-to,” she said.

Simply Bowl’s offerings are all creations of Courtney’s and include options for people who prefer a less fruit heavy dish.

“We play around with different toppings and different bases,” she said.

Aside from the food truck, Courtney is kept busy with her brick and mortar cafe of the same name, located at 209 W. Pine St., Selinsgrove, which opened on Aug. 1, 2025.

With an anchor cafe, Courtney has been able to branch out to as far away as Danville and even Harrisburg, always with an eye towards bringing they fruity favorites to customers in new locations.

“The food truck is also great because we’re able to put a little spotlight in whatever location we’re at. If it’s a business, people come to us and then see, ‘oh, I didn’t know this was here.’ So it’s a nice way for us to reach customers, but also to bring attention to the business we may be set up at,” Courtney said.

For all the hard work that has gone into both businesses, Courtney puts much of her success on the community she serves.

“Without their support, we wouldn’t be where we are today, so we like to get to know our customers,” she said.

“And, the customer service you receive at the truck is the same as you would receive at the cafe. We’re trying to grow and just be kind to everybody,” Courtney said.

To find out where Simply Bowls will be next, check out their Facebook page or Instagram at @simplybowlscafe, or www.simplybowls.cafe.