Belmar-based Playa Bowls keeps getting larger, and not necessarily in its portion sizes.
The superfruit-and-acai-bowl concept casual-dining chain is continuing its rapid U.S. expansion, having executed agreements in Q1 with three franchise groups covering the West, Midwest and Southeast.
In Southern Nevada, a husband-and-wife team and two others signed a 10-unit development agreement and will target opening two shops each year in non-traditional venues such as airports, sports stadiums, and the Las Vegas Strip corridor.
In the Midwest, a couple signed a five-unit development agreement to introduce Playa Bowls to the St. Louis region, with its first location scheduled to open in Clayton, Mo., this fall.
In the Southeast, a multi-unit operator has signed a multi-unit agreement in the Charlotte market and plans to open its first location in Tega Cay, NC.
Following a milestone year of expansion, Playa Bowls is on track to open 20 new locations in the first quarter of this year.
In 2025, Playa Bowls opened 85 new locations nationwide, bringing the brand to nearly 400 shops in less than one year.
In January, Playa Bowls launched its “Protein Wave” menu, the brand’s first dedicated lineup specifically engineered for high-protein functional fuel.
