Family-Owned Playa Bowls Brings Tropical Vibes to Oceanside

OCEANSIDE, N.Y. – Playa Bowls, the nation's leading superfruit shop specializing in acai bowls, smoothies, cold brew, and more, is bringing its signature tropical vibes to Oceanside with the opening of its newest shop. The location marks a personal milestone for New Yorkers Tess and Joe De Pierro, first-time franchise owners and longtime Playa Bowls fans. Inspired by their love of fresh, healthy options and the brand’s laid-back ‘Pineappleland’ vibe, the De Pierros are excited to bring the feel-good energy and high-quality offerings of Playa Bowls to the Oceanside community.

Located at 3549 Long Beach Road in the Sands Shopping Center, Oceanside’s premier outdoor plaza for shopping, dining, and entertainment, the De Pierros will celebrate the shop’s grand opening on May 10. The first 50 guests in line will receive a free bowl and a custom Playa Bowls t-shirt, with additional giveaways, balloon displays, and sample tastings adding to the festivities throughout the morning.

"Opening our own Playa Bowls shop as a family-owned business is truly a dream come true," said Tess. "We were first introduced to Playa Bowls by a close family friend who lives right here in Oceanside, and we quickly fell in love with the brand’s energy and commitment to fresh, healthy ingredients. Having spent countless summers in Long Beach, I’ve always loved the laid-back coastal lifestyle, and Playa Bowls matches that vibe perfectly. We’re excited to bring that same energy to Oceanside, not just for our family, but for the community around us. Our goal is to create a space where teens and families feel welcome — a fun, safe spot to hang out, to enjoy great bowls and smoothies, and leave feeling even better than when they walked in."

With backgrounds in managing large teams and operations, the De Pierros are passionate about creating positive experiences for both their Playa Bowls team and guests. Their professional careers have centered around developing people, understanding client needs, and delivering exceptional service — all values they are excited to bring to their Playa Bowls shop. Their sons and goddaughter will also be hands-on, with their son stepping in as general manager and their goddaughter helping lead the day-to-day operations as manager.

“We’re proud to build something meaningful for our community and carry forward the legacy of service our dads taught us,” said Joe De Pierro. “Hard work is in our DNA. We’ve both been working since we were 12, and we’re excited to put that spirit into creating a place where everyone feels welcome. Playa Bowls has something for every age, from athletes to seniors, and we want to get involved with local schools, senior centers, and sports teams right away. Being part of the community is at the heart of everything we’re doing.”

Committed to growing Playa Bowls’ presence in the area, the De Pierros have plans to open 3 more locations across Long Island and Queens.

Fully kosher certified, guests at Playa Bowls Oceanside can pick from an extensive menu of delicious bowls or customize their own. They can choose from a variety of unique blends made with superfoods, including acai, pitaya, coconut, kale, banana, oatmeal and mango. Tasty and nutritious toppings, such as fresh-cut fruits, seeds, nuts, granola, dried berries and nut butter, are also available as add-ons. The superfruit bowl shop also offers a selection of juices, smoothies, cold brews and other grab & go items. Playa Bowls can be made vegan or gluten-free, and can be adapted to integrate into Whole30, Keto and Paleo diets.

Founded by surfers Abby Taylor & Rob Giuliani, 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 this popular post-surf treat at each beach and came home wanting more. Abby and Rob set up a blender and a small cart across from the boardwalk in Belmar, New Jersey, and Playa Bowls was born. After ten years, thousands of employees, and hundreds of thousands of bowls later, Playa Bowls continues to offer superfruit-packed menu items with a mission to lead communities in healthy, sustainable living.

The new shop in Oceanside will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

To learn more about Playa Bowls and the Oceanside location, visit www.playabowls.com/location/oceanside and follow the shop at @playabowlsoceansideny on Instagram for the latest updates!

About Playa Bowls

Known as New Jersey's original acai bowl shop, Playa Bowls is the nation’s leading superfruit bowl shop serving up an extensive and unique menu of over 40 items, including the bright flavors of acai, pitaya, green and coconut bowls alongside oatmeal bowls, juices, smoothies, and cold brew made with the freshest, high-quality ingredients. What began as a pair of blenders, a patio table, and a fridge in 2014 has flourished into more than 300 shops nationwide that operate in 27 states, thousands of employees, and a mission to lead communities in healthy, sustainable living. The rapidly growing franchise has received numerous accolades including No. 7 on the 2025 Franchise Times Fast & Serious List, Forbes 30 Under 30, Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers, QSR Young Leaders to Watch, and finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Visit playabowls.com for additional information and stay connected on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. For more information on franchising, please visit franchise.playabowls.com/.