Goodness Bowls is bringing its health-focused menu to Haddon Township this May, with co-franchise owner Nico Corsaro turning a summer job into his first business venture.
The new location at 225 Haddon Ave. will be led by Corsaro and his parents, Michael and Maria.
“We met Sue and Corinne [Persichetti], the franchisors, at a franchise forum, and we hit it off with them right away, and we started to get the ball rolling. We love the Goodness Bowls culture that they’ve built for the last seven years,” Corsaro told What Now Philadelphia.
The Persichettis, a mother-daughter duo, launched Goodness Bowls in 2019 with a simple philosophy: goodness creates more goodness. The brand now operates six locations in Spring House, Collegeville, Villanova, Narberth, Scranton and Avalon.
Goodness Bowls serves a fast-casual menu centered on customizable açaí, pitaya, coconut and green-based bowls topped with granola, fresh fruit, nut butters and superfoods.
The menu also features salads, wraps, warm grain bowls, avocado toast, oatmeal and light bites. Smoothies, cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, coffee and specialty lattes round out the offerings.
The Haddon Township location marks a full-circle moment for Corsaro, who previously worked as a team member at the Avalon location in the summer and the Villanova location in the fall. He is now a co-owner of his own store and will serve as its general manager.
“I always dreamed of becoming a business owner since I was a little kid. I’ve always known that was what I wanted to do,” he said. “I’m fresh out of school; this is my first experience in the real business world. I’m learning everything, and I’m lucky to have support from Sue and Corinne and my parents.”
The Corsaros chose Haddon Township for its strong sense of community.
“We just kind of fell in love with the area. We were introduced to seven to ten different locations, and we immediately fell in love with this spot. It’s very family-driven, very community-oriented, and that’s what drew us here,” Corsaro said.
The new location will reflect the style of the other outposts while adding a touch of personal flair.
“We work very closely with the franchisors and interior designers. The brand image is always the brand image, but we’re talking about putting in grass walls and TVs,” he said.
Corsaro said he’s looking forward to the upcoming opening.
“Every day is a new adventure. I don’t think it’s fully hit me yet. I think once construction is done, and we’re moving everything in here and everything is finalized, it will start to hit me. It’s been a long process, but we’re getting closer, and I’m starting to get really excited about it. It’s a lot of work, but I enjoy that part of it,” he said.
For other young entrepreneurs interested in opening a storefront, Corsaro said to learn as much as possible from others.
“There’s a saying: you are who you surround yourself with, and it’s 100% true. I’ve been lucky enough to be around people who are a lot smarter than me and have put me under their wing and shown me the ropes, and I’m forever grateful for that,” he said.
Visit the Goodness Bowls website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates on the Haddon Township grand opening.
