Playa Bowls, the 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, August 26th in Durham. The Durham shop marks the second Playa Bowls location in North Carolina and is located at 744B 9th Street across from the Shops at Erwin Mills.
The Durham shop is owned and operated by franchise owner Dave Pokorny. With plans to open a second Playa Bowls location in Durham to appeal to the town’s bustling college crowd, as well as opening a Raleigh location before the end of 2023, Dave and his team members Jacob Kessler and Chrissy Lemons, are eager to assist in the expansion of the nutritious superfruit bowl concept in North Carolina. Growing up and living in a beach town has inspired Dave to center his life around traveling to tropical destinations, spending his time surfing and scuba diving. Dave’s passion for living an active, healthy lifestyle runs deep, and he is looking forward to spreading the tropical vibes that Playa Bowls preaches in North Carolina.
“It feels so great to be joining the Durham business community and introducing a refreshing concept such as Playa Bowls to the area,” said David Pokorny, franchise owner of Playa Bowl Durham in a statement. “With Duke University around the corner from this shop, and North Carolina Central University being a few blocks away, plus the increased demand for nutritious meal and snack options, I’m confident we will receive an amazing response from the college and local community. We can’t wait to get started here in Durham and look forward to spreading the Playa Vibes across the rest of North Carolina, one Playa Bowls 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 and brand-new mango, chia pudding, coconut, kale, banana, oatmeal, and more. 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 deliciously 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 specialized in bowls such as acai and pitaya, oatmeal, chia, smoothies, juices, cold brew and more. Today, the brand has 175+ shops systemwide, operating in 20 states, with plans to continue to expand the domestic footprint across the U.S. and globally.
The new shop in Durham will be open seven days a week from 8am-9pm.
