Playa Bowls, a health-food restaurant with more than 200 venues nationwide, is opening its first Tennessee location in Memphis in early 2024. 

The 1,300-square-foot Memphis restaurant, 706 S. Mendenhall, will include a covered patio when it opens in late February or March. 

Co-owners and operators Jack Speed and Amy Lupo tried Playa Bowls in Florida in 2023 and decided they wanted to open one in Memphis, where Speed is from. 

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Speed said there are other bowl-concept restaurants in Memphis but no smoothie bowl-based restaurants in Memphis. 

“There are none here,” Speed said. “Bowls are our primary product, but some bowl shops are second priority.” 

After eating at Playa Bowls in Florida, Speed said he and Lupo decided the quality was better and wanted to open one.

“No one does it quite as well as Playa Bowls does,” Speed said. 

Lupo has three Nothing Bundt Cake stores, so Speed said she takes the lead on the franchise end of it. Previously working in medical sales, he said he oversees the operator side of things. 

Speed said Playa Bowls has fresh, high-quality ingredients with acai from Brazil and many toppings. 

The menu is mainly bowls, but Playa Bowls offers smoothies, juices, cold brews and cold-pressed juices. 

In the next couple of years, Speed said he is hoping to have two more locations. 

“The agreement was three locations in the next couple of years, but hopefully sooner than that, and we are open to more,” Speed said. 

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Speed said he looks forward to serving his home community while bringing a new concept and a healthy dining option. He said he is also looking forward to being a constant customer. 

“I’m excited about bringing the concept to the area, but quite honestly, being able to be a consumer,” Speed said. “I’m just excited about having my bowls and smoothies. I probably eat too much of it, but it is what it is.”