Playa Bowls closes in on 400 locations

Playa Bowls, the healthy fast casual franchise, has reported rapid expansion moves along with new franchise agreements.

During its first quarter of 2026, Playa Bowls said it has reached new agreements in the West, Midwest, and Southeast. This includes a 10-unit agreement with Justin and Hannah Kirkland for the development of 10 units in southern Nevada.

According to the agreement, the Kirkland plan will focus on building the brand in high-traffic and high-visibility locations such as airports, sports stadiums, and the Las Vegas strip. The franchisee duo already operates seven Club Pilates in the Las Vegas market.

With a focus on superfruit and acai bowl dishes, Playa Bowls has demonstrated significant growth in the past year. The brand is on track to open 20 new locations in the first quarter of this year. This plan builds on the opening of 85 locations in 2025. Playa Bowls reports that it is on track to reach 400 shops in less than a year after passing the 300-unit mark.

In the Midwest, Brittany and Jeff Ciaramita have signed a five-unit development agreement to bring Playa Bowls to the St. Louis market. Their development strategy prioritizes areas with strong residential density, proximity to schools, and high-traffic corridors, including Clayton, Ladue, Central West End, Creve Coeur, Town and Country, and Chesterfield. The couple is targeting their first location to open in Clayton this fall.

Experienced multi-unit operator Coleen Jeter, alongside her cousin Robin Richards, has signed a multi-unit agreement in the Charlotte, North Carolina market and plans to open her first location in Tega Cay. Jeter brings franchising experience, having operated multiple restaurant concepts across several states, including McDonald’s, Wingstop, and Crumbl Cookies.

“These agreements reflect the strong interest we’re seeing from operators who are looking for a brand with broad consumer appeal and long-term growth potential,” said Jayson Tipp, chief development officer of Playa Bowls. “As we continue to grow, our focus remains on disciplined development and building the right partnerships. Our goal is to expand our simple operations model thoughtfully while ensuring our franchise owners are positioned for strong performance in their markets.”

In Canada, Play Bowls also signed a 160-unit development agreement with the first location slated to open at The Well in downtown Toronto.