UPDATE (January 30, 2019): Georgia’s First Playa Bowls Opens in SPX Alley Old Fourth Ward
Fast-growth acai bowl concept Playa Bowls is expanding to Georgia.
Johnny and Kacy McCall and Matt and Blair Branch Huckeba, the owners of Pour and Pour A.M. in Brookhaven, are the market’s franchisees.
Georgia’s first two locations will open in Old Fourth Ward and Chamblee and could break ground as early as next week, Johnny McCall and Matt Huckeba Friday told What Now Atlanta on a conference call.
In Old Fourth Ward, Playa Bowls will be situated in the under-construction SPX Alley development, at 661 Auburn Ave NE.
In Chamblee, the fast-casual eatery will take up residence in the Parkview on Peachtree development, at 5070 Peachtree Blvd.
“When we found these two locations, they were so good that we couldn’t pass on them,” McCall said.
“The Beltline seems appropriate for Playa Bowls’ flagship store in Atlanta.”
If ground breaks next week as planned, both locations would open as early as late-September.
“Our buildouts will be really fast baring any issues with the City. We should have a pretty quick and tight construction timeline.”
Playa Bowls will look and feel like a “surf shop” with elements like reclaimed wood and surfboards.
Tables made from wood salvaged from hurricane Sandy have already been made for the soon-to-open restaurants.
“Every design element has a really cool story to it and every location is designed a little differently.”
But each location won’t just look different. The menu will vary from location to location as well.
For example, grab-and-go salads, seasonal soups, poke, and even coffee service could be added on a case by case basis.
While McCall and Huckeba are being “strategic” about growing the Playa Bowls brand in Georgia, the duo already has their eyes on “multiple locations that we want to get into.”
The real estate search will be focused initially on “big college areas” like Athens, Statesboro, and Valdosta.
Founded in 2014, Playa Bowls has 48 locations with at least 15 “coming soon,” according to the company’s website.
Most of the existing locations are in the New Jersey area.
