Playa Bowls, the nation’s superfruit bowl shop specializing in bowls such as acai and pitaya, oatmeal, chia, smoothies, juices, cold brew and more, announced the opening of the brand’s newest location on Saturday, January 20 at 11:00 a.m. The Gainesville shop marks the first Playa Bowls location in Florida’s North Central region with more than 20 open in the state. Located at 1260 SW 5th Avenue, the new shop offered free bowls and limited-edition T-shirts to the first 50 guests in line. Additionally, the shop is partnering with local businesses to provide five days’ worth of giveaways on its Instagram account, where winners can receive free prizes.
The recent opening of the Gainesville shop marks a significant milestone in Playa Bowls’ rapid growth in Florida. The strategic move to enter Gainesville’s thriving business environment aligns with Playa Bowls’ ambitious expansion plans, as the brand continues to build out its presence in the Sunshine State.
“Gainesville and its lively college crowd is the perfect canvas for the vibrant flavors and high-quality ingredients that define Playa Bowls. Our menu, featuring superfruit bowls, cold brews and refreshing smoothies, is crafted to resonate with the energetic rhythm of active lifestyles. What better place to find locals with active lifestyles than a college town?” said Nicolle DuBose, Chief Marketing Officer of Playa Bowls in a statement. “We are so grateful to continue expanding our brand’s values of providing nutritious and delicious options across Florida, and we can’t wait to spread a taste of summer in Gainesville, one delicious bowl at a time.”
Guests at Playa Bowls can pick from a menu of bowls or customize their own. They can choose from a variety of proprietary blends made with superfoods, including pure acai, pitaya, chia pudding, coconut, kale, banana, oatmeal, and a new mango menu launch. Guests can also add nutritious toppings, such as fresh cut fruits, seeds, nuts, granola, dried berries, and nut butters. The superfruit bowl shop also offers a selection of juices, smoothies, cold brew, and other select drinks. Playa Bowls can be made vegan or gluten-free, and it can be adapted to integrate into Whole30, Keto, and Paleo diets.
Founded by surfers Abby Taylor & Rob Giuliani, Playa Bowls was born out of the desire to recreate healthy versions of the acai and pitaya bowls the pair encountered on various surf trips spanning from Costa Rica to Hawaii. The duo discovered new and unique twists on this popular post-surf treat at each beach and came home wanting more. Abby and Rob decided to set up a blender and a folding table on the boardwalk in their hometown of Belmar, and Playa Bowls was born. After eight years, thousands of employees, and hundreds of thousands of bowls later, Playa Bowls continues to offer superfruit bowls with a mission to lead communities in healthy, sustainable living.
Since its inception in 2014, Playa Bowls has over 200 shops systemwide, operating in 22 states.
The new shop in Gainesville will be open seven days a week from 8am-8pm.
