Playa Bowls has nearly 400 locations across 30 U.S. states, and for its very first move outside the country, the New Jersey-born chain chose Toronto.
The brand’s international debut opened at The Well, the mixed-use development at Spadina Avenue and Front Street, in a 1,700-square-foot flagship shop built around the chain’s signature superfruit bowls — acai, pitaya, coconut, and green varieties — alongside smoothies, oatmeal bowls, and cold brew, all served in the laid-back, beach-inspired style the brand is known for. The expansion is being led by Eat Up Canada Inc., a restaurant development group whose founders previously built a 50-unit Firehouse Subs footprint in Canada and currently oversee the country’s Pokeworks rollout.
According to Playa Bowls CEO John Cappasola, the Toronto launch is a deliberate first step in a much larger plan: the master franchise agreement with Eat Up Canada calls for more than 160 locations across the country. A second Toronto-area location is already slated to open in Etobicoke in late July, with two to three additional franchise locations expected before the end of the year, and five to ten more projected for 2027.
The Canadian menu skips juices — a decision based on U.S. sales data — but keeps the brand’s core lineup intact, including fan favourites like the Pure Vida Bowl (acai, granola, honey, blueberries, and strawberries) and the OG Nut Bowl (acai, granola, banana, strawberries, coconut flakes, and Nutella).
Want to be among the first in Canada to try it? Playa Bowls is open now at The Well, 430 Front St. W.