Playa Bowls, the nation’s largest and leading superfruit shop specializing in acai bowls, smoothies, juices, cold brew, and more, is getting ready to expand throughout Phoenix, starting with a new site coming to 4528 E Thomas Rd.
The company’s newest location is set to move into the former home of Alex Optical. This is the first of many Playa Bowls locations for Roosevelt (Rosie) Nix, a former NFL player who has played for the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Indianapolis Colts. Nix tells What Now Phoenix that this first location is expected to open on May 3rd, with plenty of giveaways planned. The first 100 customers will receive a free bowl, while an additional 50 free t-shirts will be handed out during the event. Nix tells What Now that this will be the first of five or six locations planned to open in the central Phoenix area. The news of this upcoming location falls on he heels of another significant milestone for the company: opening its 300th location in Atlanta’s fast-paced Buckhead neighborhood.
“Playa Bowls began with a pure vision, a blender, and a love for surfing. We knew the owner of a pizza shop on the boardwalk, and he let us set up our little cart outside. I’d spend the day passing out samples, hoping people would love these bowls as much as I did – something light, delicious, nutritious, and fueling after a surf,” Abby Taylor, the brand’s founder and chief marketing officer, said in a news release. “Seeing that vision turn into 300 shops is unreal, and we’re not slowing down. I love how Playa Bowls has become part of so many diverse communities. The energy and affection for our brand keep growing, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next.”
The leading superfruit shop is rapidly expanding, with 74 openings in 2024 and 13 more locations debuting in the first quarter of 2025. An additional 90-plus shops are set to open before year-end, with more than 350 units currently in the development pipeline. With upcoming openings in New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, Maine, Arizona, and beyond, Playa Bowls continues to reach new markets and expand its footprint nationwide.
Guests at Playa Bowls can pick from an extensive menu of delicious bowls or customize their own. They can choose from various unique blends made with superfruits, including acai, pitaya, coconut, kale, banana, oatmeal, and mango. Tasty and nutritious toppings, such as fresh-cut fruits, seeds, nuts, granola, dried berries, and nut butter, are also available as add-ons. The superfruit bowl shop also offers a selection of juices, smoothies, cold brews, and other grab & go items. Playa Bowls can be made vegan or gluten-free, and can be adapted to integrate into Whole30, Keto, and Paleo diets.
