Something sweet is coming to the Wynnewood Shopping Center this fall.
Playa Bowls will open a 1,360-square-foot spot next to Pure Barre, operated by Brandon Tieu and Anshuman Parikh. The duo currently runs 10 locations across Pennsylvania. This will be the second Playa Bowls on the Main Line, following the popular Wayne location.
“We’re extremely excited about the new location,” Parikh told What Now Philadelphia. “We’ve wanted to grow on the Main Line for a while. This one in particular was absolutely top of our bucket list.”
The two began their franchising journey driven by a passion for health-focused, “better-for-you” brands.
“We tried the product. We actually ended up visiting stores nationwide to understand what it was that really made Playa Bowls so special,” Parikh said. “What we found is that it’s a combination of the extreme-quality product, the amazon people that make up both the brand at the corporate level as well as in the store and then the customers that come in and just create an awesome vibe.”
Tieu and Parikh then left their jobs to fully dedicate themselves to Playa.
“We went from working behind desks to working behind registers and I think it was the best decision both of us have ever made from a career perspective,” he said. “We walk into one of our stores and we absolutely lose track of time and just enjoy hanging out with the staff and customers and bringing a smile to people’s faces.”
Playa Bowls offers a colorful menu of superfruit bowls, smoothies and juices made with fresh, health-focused ingredients. Signature bowls feature bases such as açaí, pitaya, coconut, banana and greens, topped with granola, almond butter, honey and fresh fruit.
Both Tieu and Parikh say their favorite is the Pura Vida Bowl—Playa Acai topped with blueberry flax granola, strawberries, blueberries and a drizzle of honey.
“When acai is created, the pulp concentration is a very important factor in how it actually comes across in terms of the level of consistency with the actual fruit,” Parikh said. “It took a lot of work to get the acai base to where it is today. There’s no added sugar, there’s no ice, there’s no syrup, and I think it really comes through in the taste.”
The menu also includes oatmeal, cold brew coffee and fresh-pressed juices. Many items are gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan. Whether customers want a quick breakfast, post-workout snack or sweet treat, Playa Bowls serves a customizable, energizing option with a tropical twist.
“The other item I think not enough people have tried is the Sweet Cream Cold Brew. It’s unbelievably good. I personally get it every time I go into a store,” he said.
The Wynnewood location is set to open on September 20. Once doors open, the team plans to host community-focused events to bring locals together.
Stay tuned on Instagram for all the grand opening updates.
