Toronto — Playa Bowls, the U.S.’s leading superfruit bowl shop with nearly 400 locations, is officially bringing its tropical vibe north of the border. Eat Up Canada, Inc., the restaurant development group leading Playa Bowls’ Canada expansion, has signed a lease for the brand’s first Canadian shop in downtown Toronto. The shop will mark Playa Bowls’ international debut when it opens this spring.
The new shop is part of Playa Bowls’ master franchise agreement with Eat Up Canada, led by George Heos and Alex Gerzon. The pair previously built a 50-unit Firehouse Subs portfolio in Canada and are currently leading the expansion of Pokeworks in the market. They also bring decades of experience in franchising and restaurant operations with major brands including KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Boston Pizza and Recipe Unlimited. Under the agreement, Eat Up Canada plans to develop more than 160 Playa Bowls locations across Canada in the coming years, establishing the brand in key markets before expanding through franchising.
“Canada has one of the most sophisticated restaurant markets in North America, and consumers here quickly recognize concepts that feel authentic and distinctive,” says Heos, co-founder of Eat Up Canada, Inc. “When we first experienced Playa Bowls, what stood out immediately was the energy around the brand. Playa Bowls brings a fresh perspective to the fast-casual space, and we’re excited to introduce something that feels both new and culturally relevant.”
The new 1,700-square-foot shop will open within The Well, a vibrant, indoor-outdoor mixed-use development at the intersection of Spadina Avenue and Front Street in downtown Toronto. The prominent downtown setting will introduce Playa Bowls to one of the city’s most lively urban hubs.
“Expanding into Canada is a major milestone for Playa Bowls, and launching our first international location in a world-class city like Toronto is a strong way to begin that next chapter,” says John Cappasola, CEO of Playa Bowls. “George, Alex and the Eat Up Canada team bring deep experience building restaurant brands in the Canadian market, and we have tremendous confidence in their ability to grow Playa Bowls in a way that preserves the authenticity, culture and guest experience that define our brand.”
Known as New Jersey’s original açai bowl shop, Playa Bowls is the nation’s leading superfruit bowl shop with almost 400 shops nationwide in 30 states. For more information, visit www.playabowls.com.
SOURCE: Playa Bowls