Main Street News

The term “juju” is typically referred to regarding luck. At Juju’s in Great Barrington, juju is all about spreading kindness and good vibes. 

“With Great Barrington changing and newer families coming in, we wanted to provide a fun location that was simple and easy,” said Juju’s general manager, Lisa Ake. “We wanted to bring some sunshine to the Berkshires.” 

Juju’s founder Josh Irwin opened the spot on Railroad Street in May of 2024. He previously owned Cantina 229, where Lisa also worked as a general manager. The idea to open Juju’s came from Josh’s realization that there aren’t any locally-owned, casual, quick service restaurants in the area. From the jump, the plan with Juju’s was to offer a fun, but simple menu that would provide quick service with a healthy, locally sourced twist. 

Curating the menu 

“People love chicken,” Lisa laughed. And that was the statement that formed much of Juju’s menu. Though the menu is limited – only consisting of about ten items – it packs a punch with the flavors. Under the “krispy bites” category, you can find Juju’s signature popcorn chicken, popcorn cauliflower, onion petals, and tater tots. Sauce options encompass a range of flavors, including hot chipotle, halal white, cilantro chutney, peach bbq, pesto aioli, buzzy mustard, cajun remi, and Juju’s “secret sauce.” 

For the greens lovers, they have two salads on the menu – a “hardly” classic, yet simple caesar and a sumac fattoush, a Middle Eastern salad made with pita chips. For handhelds, there is a choice of popcorn chicken or popcorn cauliflower gyro, served in a pita. Additionally, they’ve recently added a Nashville hot chicken sandwich and curly fries to the menu – both of which have been a huge hit. 

Perhaps one of the most important options on the menu – next to the chicken, of course – is the soft serve. Juju’s always has at least four flavors of soft serve on hand, including one dairy-free/vegan option. They rotate ice cream flavors every two to four weeks in order to keep it fresh and to offer something new. 

“We’re going to be releasing some secret menu items in the next couple of weeks, too!” Lisa shared. “The people that follow us on social media – @keepitjujus – will have access to that. For the regulars, if they come in and say “keep it krispy” between noon and 3:30 on weekdays, then they can get a gyro or salad for $10 instead of the full price. It’s a fun way to give a little something back to the community that has supported us.” 

The menu might be small, but there’s something for everyone on there. “We have great food, an easy menu, options for those who are vegetarian, and a specific fryer and different batter for people who are gluten free!” Lisa shared. 

Spreading the joy 

Part of what Juju’s aims to do is create a community space for families and kids to hang out and connect with one another. “The love we have for our community is what fuels our desire to build awesome projects, like Juju’s, that connect the area’s deep roots in agriculture and our food systems to the service industry,” Juju’s states on their website.

Prior to Juju’s, Lisa didn’t see a place where kids and families wanted to hang out. “It’s fun to walk around Railroad Street and pop into the shops, but there was no fun kiddie spot. We felt like it was a spot that the community needed,” she said. 

What’s the most rewarding part of being in the business? For Lisa, it’s the smiles on people’s faces when they come in. “I bring everything that I possibly can to the restaurant. Being from California, I struggle with the winter, but Juju’s is 100% the place that is always on. We want to spread joy as much as possible. I didn’t realize that people could get so excited about something as simple as chicken or ice cream, but it’s so fun to see it happen.” 

Visit Juju’s inside the Triplex Cinema at 70 Railroad Street in Great Barrington on Wednesdays through Sundays from 12pm to 9pm, visit their website keepitjujus.com, and follow them on Instagram at @keepitjujus.