Avon Restaurant Opening Marks 5th Connecticut Location For Chain

AVON, CT — A restaurant chain's expansion into Avon marks the fifth in the state.

Playa Bowls, which specializes in bowls like acai and pitaya and oatmeal and chia, along with smoothies, juices and cold brew, said the opening of the brand's newest location in Avon is set for April 15 10 a.m. The Avon shop is located at 380 West Main St.

It will be offering free bowls and limited-edition T-shirts to the first 50 guests in line, along with other swag and entertainment provided throughout the day.

The Avon shop is owned and operated by franchise owners Mitch Jackson and Mike Bogdan. Now with two existing shops in West Hartford and Glastonbury, the multi-unit operators said they saw an opportunity to grow their passion for the "nutritious superfruit bowl concept" and expand the Playa Bowls footprint in Connecticut.

"We are thrilled to be expanding the Playa Bowls franchise in our home state of Connecticut," they said. "The brand’s delicious bowls and smoothies have already been embraced by communities throughout Connecticut, and we're excited to introduce it to Avon's residents."

Founded by surfers Abby Taylor & Rob Giuliani in 2014, Playa Bowls was born out of the desire to recreate deliciously healthy versions of the acai and pitaya bowls the pair encountered on various surf trips spanning from Costa Rica to Hawaii. The duo discovered new and unique twists on the popular post-surf treat at each beach and came home wanting more.

They then decided to set up a blender and a folding table a boardwalk.

The brand now has 175-plus shops in 20 states, with plans to continue to expand the domestic footprint across the U.S. and globally.

The new shop will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.