One of the most rewarding aspects of running my public relations and marketing company is it allows me to continue my love of story-telling. As a former reporter, I have a knack for finding compelling, unique and interesting stories in all of my client interactions. I never tire of seeking the extraordinary out of the seemingly commonplace.
Sometimes these unearthed tidbits take shape in press releases. Other times I ghost write columns, publish articles on behalf of my clients. Often these nuggets are woven into social media posts.
As an entrepreneur, I have an affinity for the small business community. I love learning how business owners got their start, what attracted them to a specific type of business and how they worked to overcome challenges.
Through my work with Falls Township, I helped these Bucks County government officials launch a “Live Here, Spend Here” campaign. Similar to the “Shop Small” effort popular during the holiday season, Live Here, Spend Here is aimed at promoting the local small business community.
Since it began in May 2015, I have interviewed more than 85 local business owners about their business ventures. I shared, through feature articles and photos posted on the Falls Township Wesbite and on social media, their highs and lows, their future goals, how their business is different from competitors – and more – in these promotional pieces.
Recently, I had the opportunity to marry two of my loves: Small business features and healthy eating. Every year during trips with my family to the Jersey Shore I seek out new and delicious fruit and granola-topped bowls and either have them drizzled with honey, peanut butter or Nutella. These were me go-to healthy eating treats while on vacation mostly because I could not find them anywhere near me.
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At the end of August 2020, I officially no longer had to drive to the shore for a fresh and fruity bowl. Playa Bowls opened a new location in Falls Township. I reached out, welcomed the business to the community and interviewed the General Manager, Leah Patterson, as part of the Live Here, Spend Here campaign. Below is my article on Playa Bowls.
Playa Bowls
The fresh and fruity tastes of summertime can be enjoyed during any season at Playa Bowls, which opened a new location in Fairless Hills in August 2020 featuring its healthy and delicious bowls, smoothies, and juices.
A hot spot at the jersey shore, Playa Bowls is known for its tropical bowls crafted to suit customers’ unique tastes. Each bowl can be made with one of seven bases: acai, pitaya, coconut, green (think kale blend), chia, banana, or oatmeal. From there, bowls can be topped with a variety of fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, and mango, as well as drizzles, including honey, Nutella, and peanut butter.
“It’s limitless,” said the store’s general manager Leah Patterson of the numerous flavor creations. “There’s so many different ways you can go.”
Chock full of antioxidants, vitamins, proteins and other good-for-you ingredients, bowls can be as healthy as customers like. Pairing the various base and fruit combos with showstoppers like rich Nutella and savory peanut butter add another level of awesome.
For customers overwhelmed by the sheer multitude of choices, Playa Bowls offers fun and funky menu items, such as the Electric Mermaid, which is a pitaya blend topped with granola, kiwi, pineapple, mango, coconut flakes and honey. And, Patterson added, samples are always available.
Patterson, who began working for Playa Bowls in November 2019 has yet to try everything (if that is even possible). For now, her favorite bowl is the Stupid Cupid, which was meant for Valentine’s Day, but has since become a menu mainstay. The bowl is made from blended strawberries, bananas, and coconut milk, topped with strawberries, coconut flakes, white chocolate drizzle, granola, and Nutella.
The reddish-purplish acai is “amazing,” according to Patterson, and one of the ingredients that Playa Bowls has become known for.
“We have our own blend of acai that’s specific to Playa Bowls,” she said.
A former Fairless Hills resident and Pennsbury High School graduate, Patterson runs the Falls Township and Newtown Playa Bowls location for owners Mike and Bronwyn Bergen. Bronwyn is a Pennsbury High School graduate and district teacher.
“I run both stores like they’re my own,” Patterson said. “I have a lot of passion.”
The same could be said about Playa Bowls’ founders, Robert Giuliani, and Abby Taylor, both Jersey Shore natives who opened the first Playa Bowls in 2014. Since then, more than 97 stores have opened. Patterson said she thinks the Falls Township location is the 98th store.
“They come to all the openings,” Patterson said of Giuliani and Taylor. “They’re readily available. They really do care.”
The co-founders also work to keep synchronicity among all locations, including the launch of new products. For fall, Patterson said the stores will offer a pumpkin-centric menu, featuring pumpkin protein bites, pumpkin granola, and pumpkin smoothies, all of which will be available starting on Oct. 1.
Regardless of the time of year and seasonal favorites featured, there are not many places around Bucks County offering such a vast array of bowls, smoothies, and juices.
“We’re trying to bring something that’s completely different to the area,” Patterson said.
To learn more
Playa Bowls is located at 110 Lincoln Highway, inside the Oxford Point Shopping Center. Hours are Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 267-202-6442 or visit
Katalinas Communications offers marketing, public relations and social media strategy and management services for projects both large and small and for clients with varying budgets. Our team also provides branding, graphic design and web design and development services. To learn more about how we can help your business or organization, email Theresa to arrange a no-obligation consultation.
