Playa Bowls, an acai bowl and smoothie chain, has expanded its footprint into new and existing markets by opening 11 locations and securing 52 franchise commitments in the third quarter.
Belmar, New Jersey-based Playa Bowls, which was acquired by private equity group Sycamore Partners in September, said it has nailed down a total of 195 franchise commitments since the start of the year, with 55% of those signed by existing franchisees, according to the company.
The chain — with a menu of super fruit acai, pitaya, mango, green and coconut bowls as well as oatmeal bowls, juices, smoothies and cold brew — has over 275 restaurants nationally with 75 openings slated for this year. In addition, it has "nearly 300 franchise commitments driving our future expansion," according to Jayson Tipp, Playa Bowls' chief development officer.
Franchisees Cody Benisch and Robert Wissing are helping to drive Playa Bowls' growth across the Denver metropolitan area. They debuted their first shop in 2021, and now operate five Playa Bowls locations, according to the chain. The pair of franchisees recently committed to opening five additional stores in their region over the next two years. The first new location will be in Boulder and is set to open near the University of Colorado by year's end. Those additions will increase its total store count in the Denver area to 10, Playa Bowls said.
Earlier this year, Playa Bowls announced its entry into Dallas with three separate multiunit agreements signed and a first shop opening in the first quarter next year. The chain plans to break into the Dallas market with first-time franchisees Anshuman Parikh and Brandon Tieu. The business partners have committed to opening 10 locations across Dallas over the next five years and are actively scouting prime areas for expansion
"The Dallas market offers plenty of untapped potential, giving the brand ample room for growth," Parikh said in a statement.
Playa Bowls has obtained multiunit and single-unit commitments in the following markets:
- Boulder, Colorado, five units signed by Benis and Wissing.
- St. Augustine, Florida, one unit signed.
- West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, one unit signed.
- Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida, two units signed.
- Cumming, Georgia, one unit signed.
- Lawrence, Overland Park and Leawood, Kansas, three units signed.
- Detroit, one unit signed.
- Hanover, New Hampshire, one unit signed.
- Oceanport, New Jersey, one unit signed.
- Toms River, New Jersey, one unit signed.
- Nassau and Suffolk counties, New York, 11 units signed.
- Queens/Long Island, New York, four units signed.
- Philadelphia and Scranton, Pennsylvania, three units signed.
- York, Pennsylvania, one unit signed.
- Dallas, 10 units signed by Parikh and Tieu.
- Austin, Texas, two units signed.
- New Braunfels/San Marcos, Texas, three units signed.
- Pleasant View, Utah, one unit signed.