Playa Bowls to Open in Ithaca Early This August

A surf’s up attitude will breeze into Ithaca this summer as Playa Bowls brings the beach to town. Bearing a menu packed with fruity flavors and chilled desserts, Playa Bowls will welcome South Meadow Shopping Center to “Pineappleland.”

Açai bowls, smoothies, cold brew, juices, oatmeal and Playa Bowls’ signature tropical vibe will touch down on 740 S Meadow Street early this August, according to Perrin Hickey, co-owner of the franchise.

“You walk in and you're transported to the beach,” Perrin said. “It's bright colors, it's tropical, there's surfboards, there's wicker light fixtures, there’s murals, there’s paintings on the wall. It's just fun [and] vibrant.”

Perrin and her husband Nate Hickey co-own the new Playa Bowls Ithaca location. Based in Syracuse, Perrin said they hope to bring healthy food options and beachy vibes to Central New York, especially on gloomy days.

Building a signature Playa Bowl begins with one of six cold bases: açai, pitaya, coconut, banana, green — which include kale, banana, pineapple and coconut milk — or mango. Add-ons like fruits, granola, Nutella and honey can be added to the base to complete the bowl.

Health and healthy lifestyles are at the core of Playa Bowls’ brand, according to its mission statements. Most of its menu is fruit-based and focuses on minimizing refined sugars. Perrin said she and Nate are looking forward to adding new light and “healthful” options to the food scene in Ithaca.

Surfers Abby Taylor and Robert Giuliani started Playa Bowls as a small pop-up stand on the Jersey Shore in 2014. The pair practically lived off of açai bowls during a trip to Costa Rica and wanted to bring the “healthy post-surf snack” home with them, Perrin said.

Now widely known across the East Coast, Playa Bowls has over 300 locations. 

Perrin plans to open Playa Bowls Ithaca with a bang, and she said the community should stay tuned for an announcement of their August opening date via their Instagram.

The grand opening will take the form of a large party with a DJ, airbrush tattoos, free samples and giveaways. The first 50 customers in line for the opening will receive free Playa Bowls, and she said the community should expect a high energy event as they introduce the shop to Ithaca.

“Ithaca has a really strong heart, and we're excited to be a part of that,” Perrin said.

Varsha Bhargava is a news editor from The Cornell Daily Sun working as a reporter for the Ithaca Times through The Sun’s summer fellowship program. This article was originally published in The Ithaca Times.

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