A fresh chill in the air and the familiar sight of rainbow crosswalks greet students as they return to Capitol Hill for another quarter at Seattle University. This new school year will bring hours in the library, days in the rain, and of course, some student hot spots that are new to the area, thanks to the opening of Verve Bowls and Oasis on Capitol hill over the summer.

Seattle University student as well as Oasis staff, Nico McGuire.

Verve, which opened in mid-July, sells healthy and delicious acai bowls, a trending treat in places across the country and globe. There are no other acai bowl sellers on Capitol Hill, and in the past, students have had to travel to West Seattle for their fix.

The bowls at Verve are made with high quality organic acai berries shipped from California. Acai is a fruit that is high in nutrients and delicious when paired with other fruits and granola. The bowls are mostly vegan based, with honey as an easily removed ingredient. Acai bowls are thicker than smoothies, with toppings that make them more filling. The menu allows for customers to add additional toppings like flax seeds or bee pollen, and also offers healthy snacks such as kombucha, smoothies, pitaya (dragon fruit) bowls, and juices.

Scott and Matt Alderson, the two brothers that started the business, have noticed a rise in popularity since students started returning to the area.

“I see people here all the time— Seattle U students, Seattle Central students—we do get a lot of students, that’s one of our primary groups,” said Matt Alderson, a co-owner of Verve and current junior at Seattle U.

Matt juggles his new business as he works toward a degree in finance and economics, while also fulfilling his role on the Seattle U men’s tennis team.

“It’s a lot of time management but it’s awesome and it’s really rewarding. It’s really fun,” Matt said.

The brothers came up with their acai bowl business plan while in California and Nevada, but chose Capitol Hill as the location for their business because they understood that there were people wanting exactly what they were offering, especially students.

As the temperature gets colder here in Seattle, the owners are trying to address the climate with the possibility of adding warm oatmeal or quinoa to the menu.

Also new to the area is the popular bubble tea business Oasis. The new location opened on Capitol Hill about four months ago, with a slightly different menu and vibe from the popular International District location.

The new business has a very open and modern layout, with a huge art installation filling the back wall and plenty of tables that invite customers to stay longer.

“It’s a really different vibe from Chinatown, and it’s a really good study spot. I know a lot of regulars who come in to study,” said Nicolette McGuire, an employee at Oasis and a junior environmental studies and urban sustainability major at Seattle U.

Unfortunately for those who like to pair their bubble tea with Oasis’ spicy chicken, the Capitol Hill location does not have food, and has a more limited drink menu. Luckily, the shop still has the favorites.

“One of [the most popular] is our most classic and basic drink which is the royal milk tea, or the black milk tea with tapioca,” said McGuire.

The teashop allows customers to order their drink in almost any way imaginable, including snow, slush, loose leaf, and specialty, to name a few.

Landon Morikawa, a junior cellular and molecular biology major, says Oasis is his go-to spot for bubble tea.

“What I like about Oasis is that they have like four different versions of the same drink,” Morikawa said.

Oasis is open from 11 a.m. until midnight every day and is located on East Pine Street near Stumptown. This location is also giving Seattle U and Seattle Central students ten percent off their drinks until the end of the month, creating a valid excuse for a study break.

Verve Bowls is located up the street from Oasis, and is open everyday from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Author may be reached at
[email protected]