Playa Bowls To Open New Location In Guilford

GUILFORD, CT — Playa Bowls, the franchise that specializes in açaí bowls, smoothies, juices, cold brew and more, will open a new location in Guilford in early summer of this year.

The location, which is owned by local residents and franchisees John and Arianne Buzzard, will open within Guilford Commons at 1919 Boston Post Road in the space between T-Mobile and Pure Barre.

"With Guilford Commons under new ownership by Haverford Retail and exciting additions like TJ Maxx and Old Navy, we saw an immediate opportunity to complement the area with a fun, fresh, and inviting shop experience," said John Buzzard in an announcement. "Being from Branford, we know how much the community will appreciate having Playa Bowls close by."

The Buzzards discovered Playa Bowls several years ago through family on the Jersey Shore and wanted to open their own location with their daughters, Demi and Cora.

Founded in Belmar, N.J., by Abby Taylor and Rob Giuliani in 2014, Playa Bowls features a unique menu of over 40 items, including flavors of açaí, pitaya, green and coconut bowls along with oatmeal bowls, juices, smoothies, and signature cold brew line, all made with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

The Electric Mermaid bowl has pitaya topped with blueberry flax granola, pineapple, mango, kiwi, coconut flakes, and honey, while the Mango Berry Bowl has mango topped with blueberry flax granola, strawberry, blueberry and honey.

Smoothies are available at 16 or 20 ounces, and options range from strawberry banana to matcha, and the Dolce Latte smoothie, which has banana, peanut butter, chicory coffee concentrate, chocolate protein and coconut milk.

There are now 275 shops nationwide across 27 states. In Connecticut, there are currently Playa Bowl locations in Avon, Darien, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Manchester, Newington, Shelton, Storrs, and West Hartford.

Guilford Commons has seen an influx of new tenants recently. Old Navy just opened a store in the shopping center after vacating a space in Westbrook, and T.J. Maxx is expected to open later this year next to anchor tenant Fresh Market in the 21,900-square-foot space formerly occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond, which closed in 2023.

First Selectman Matt Hoey told Patch that Guilford Commons, also affectionately referred to as the "rock pile," is giving residents more opportunities to shop and dine locally.

"It's proving to be a viable and thriving shopping center. I think more importantly, it shows confidence that this market will support a variety of businesses, and it's also going to give people the opportunity to shop locally as opposed to having to get in their car and drive to other communities to shop for essentials," Hoey said. "The fact that Old Navy is now open after they had been open in Westbrook suggests that they think this is a better market opportunity for them. Whenever a national retailer makes a decision to locate here, we're thrilled. We're also looking forward to T.J. Maxx coming in later this year."