When you walk into Raining Berries in Sarasota,  you might first notice the vibrant atmosphere—the clean modern design, the soft hum of conversation, the bright, fruit-forward scent of acai and espresso. But what you might not see right away is the story behind it all: one that spans continents, cultures and generations. “My ancestry comes from British India,” says founder and CEO Bimal Bhojani. “My ancestors were brought by the British to East Africa where several generations were born and everybody from my grandfather going back was involved in agriculture—specifically, coffee and sugar farming.”

Bhojani was born in Kampala, Uganda, in a time of political unrest. When he was three months old, he and his family fled to England, seeking safety and a new start. His parents worked tirelessly to build a life there, and when their extended family became refugees under Idi Amin’s regime, they opened their doors to help them rebuild too. In 2007, Bhojani moved to the United States where he built private schools from the ground up. He also worked alongside Governor Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist to create jobs in the Florida market. In 2018, he left the school industry.

“When I got out of the private business my daughter asked what I was going to do. I said, ‘You know, I drink a lot of coffee,” Bhojani says. “She said, ‘We need to go back to the family business.’”

Bhojani’s daughter Deah, then a University of Florida sophomore, and his teenage son Dylan expressed interest in creating something meaningful together, and an idea began to percolate. The family’s ties to the Ugandan coffee industry offered a natural entry point, and soon, the trio began crafting a vision for a café that was as inclusive and energizing as the people who walked through its doors.

Launched in 2020, Raining Berries quickly became more than just a place to grab a latte—it became a space where community thrives. With ten locations now open across Central Florida and national expansion underway, including collaborations with professional athletes and Tampa Bay’s first women’s soccer team, the brand’s reach continues to grow.

For Bhojani, who has called Sarasota home for nearly two decades, success is about more than growth. As Chairman of a nonprofit that oversees 345 schools, he remains deeply connected to education and impact. “At the end of the day,” he says, “it’s about people. About creating spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and inspired.” At Raining Berries, that philosophy is brewed into every cup.