Real Estate

Playa Bowls makes Canada debut

June 26, 2026

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Playa Bowls has officially made its international debut, opening its first Canadian location at The Well in downtown Toronto. The 1,700-square-foot flagship shop marks the beginning of an aggressive international expansion plan that aims to bring more than 160 locations to Canada.

The expansion is driven by a master franchise agreement with Eat Up Canada Inc., a restaurant development group led by industry veterans George Heos and Alex Gerzon. The duo previously built a 50-unit Firehouse Subs portfolio in Canada and currently spearhead the country's Pokeworks expansion.

"Opening our first international location is a defining moment for Playa Bowls and an important step in our long-term growth strategy," Playa Bowls CEO John Cappasola said in a company press release. "Toronto is an extremely dynamic and diverse city, making it the ideal place to introduce our brand to Canada's sophisticated restaurant market."

The milestone follows a period of rapid domestic growth for the New Jersey-founded superfruit bowl chain, which now operates more than 400 locations across 30 U.S. states. The brand was recently named to Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers list.

Rapid Canadian pipeline already underway

Eat Up Canada is moving quickly to establish the brand's footprint north of the border. A second Playa Bowls location is scheduled to open in late July in Etobicoke, Ontario, with two to three additional franchised shops slated to open by the end of the year. The group projects opening five to 10 new Canadian locations next year.

According to Eat Up Canada leadership, the concept is already drawing significant market interest.

"Even before opening our flagship shop, we've received franchise interest unlike anything we've experienced with previous concepts and are already actively working with more than six potential local franchise owners," George Heos, co-founder of Eat Up Canada, said in the release.

The downtown Toronto flagship menu features Playa Bowls' signature lineup of acai, pitaya, and coconut bowls, alongside smoothies, oatmeal and cold brew coffee.