Franchising

Play Bowls opens 200th location

Provided by Playa Bowls.

August 21, 2023

New Jersey-based Playa Bowls, a superfruit bowl shop specializing in acai, pitaya, mango, green and coconut bowls, juices, smoothies and cold brew coffee, has opened its 200th location, marking the chain's 71st franchise agreement signed this year.

"Playa Bowls once began as a patio table outside of a pizza shop, and now, nearly a decade later, we've reached 200 locations across the nation," CMO Abby Taylor said in a company press release. "With our home state being New Jersey, it's truly so satisfying to celebrate such a monumental milestone right where the brand started. We can guarantee Playa Bowls' rapid momentum won't be slowing down any time soon."

The 200th location is owned and operated by franchisee Jerry Eicke, who previously worked in the finance industry and owned several salad restaurants. Eicke serves as chairman of the healthy fast casual franchise concept, The Salad House, and has held this position since February 2017. In 2018, he became a Playa Bowls franchisee alongside his business partner, Francesco Stillatano. The duo owns four shops in Englewood, Franklin Lakes, Ridgewood, and Westwood, New Jersey. Eicke's fifth shop will open in Hackensack, with plans to continue expanding throughout Bergen County.

"In 2018, I introduced Playa Bowls to Bergen County with the intention of offering healthier food options to my local community," he said in the release. "Five years later, and I'm opening my fifth location in the county, marking a major milestone for Playa Bowls. My journey as a Playa Bowls franchisee has been truly transformative, as each new shop presents an exciting opportunity to provide the community with fresh, nourishing, and delectable superfruit bowls and smoothies. I'm eager to continue expanding Playa Bowls throughout the region as well as welcoming guests at our newest Hackensack location."

The momentum for Playa Bowls is continuing beyond its 200th shop, with the brand anticipating 33 additional shops to open before the end of the year.