Described as a “superfruit bowl shop,” the first Playa Bowls location in Pittsburgh opens at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the Strip District.
The shop will serve a menu of more than 40 items, including the flavors of acai, pitaya, mango, green and coconut bowls; oatmeal bowls, juices, smoothies and cold brews. Some gluten-free options are available.
Bowls start at $11. Smoothies start at $7.99.
The Playa Bowls franchise, which encompasses a 1,943-square-foot space at The Terminal in the Strip District, is co-owned by cousins and Erie natives Brandon Minnick and John Bongiorno. They’ve hired 17 people and will be looking to add employees, Minnick said on Friday. They spent the day Thursday training workers.
“We hope we are another reason to come down to the Strip District,” Minnick said. “We can’t wait to meet everyone. You’re going to feel like you’re stepping off the boardwalk into a little mini vacation.”
Minnick said locating in The Terminal was an easy decision because of the history of the Strip District and that The Terminal is a perfect complement to the area with a fresh produce market vibe.
The Terminal offers free 30-minute parking.
On Saturday, a disc jockey will play tropical tunes. The first 50 guests will receive a free bowl and T-shirt. Playa Bowls intends to collaborate on fundraisers for community-based organizations and introduce an athlete of the month program with nearby schools.
“We are so excited,” Minnick said. “The staff is really pumped up and excited to launch. We still have some summer left and that is definitely a time when people think of fresh fruits and vegetables.”
The plan is to introduce seasonal items throughout the year.
”It’s all about being a good neighbor,” Minnick said. “We want to be part of this community. We want Pittsburgh to be the start of something that we can expand to multiple locations. Pittsburgh has been revitalizing a lot of different neighborhoods. There are so many opportunities here. Pittsburgh could really be a blueprint for a lot of these bigger cities too with how to do it and do it right.”
Playa Bowls’s outside space is dog-friendly.
Hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Sunday.
Playa Bowls is located at 1707 Smallman St., Strip District
Details:playabowls.com
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.