New Jersey Shore natives Robert Giuliani & Abby Taylor founded Playa Bowls and are still with the brand.
Avid surfers, our founders Rob and Abby were inspired while on international surf trips to destinations such as Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, California & Hawaii by how most surf towns offered their own unique version of an acai or pitaya bowl.
“Playa” is Spanish for “beach.” They decided to recreate their “Playa Experience” with an American twist and introduced Playa Bowls to residents and vacationers at the Jersey Shore.
In 2014 they opened their first location in Belmar, NJ. Through grassroots marketing they educated their community about the health benefits of their core products such as acai and pitaya.
As word spread Playa Bowls took off.
In 2023, Playa Bowls opened its 200th restaurant, spanning half the United States.
over 200 locations open in 2023 and an estimated 400 locations by 2026
meet the team
Playa Bowls is stacked with skilled entrepreneurs and experienced food service and franchising veterans.
John CappasolaChief Executive Officer LEARN MORE →
Abby TaylorCo-Founder and Chief Brand Officer LEARN MORE →
Julie KlingerChief Operating Officer LEARN MORE →
JAYSON TIPPChief Development Officer LEARN MORE →
Tony ReamanChief Financial Officer LEARN MORE →
Kate CarrollVice President Franchise Operations LEARN MORE →
Download the Free Franchise Information Ebook
INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH PLAYA BOWLS?
Please fill out this form and to gain access to an information report with all the important perspective information a possible franchisee could read.
"*" indicates required fields
John Cappasola
Chief Executive Officer
John Cappasola, CEO of Playa Bowls, leads the nation’s top superfruit bowl brand through strategic expansion, digital innovation and menu evolution, positioning it at the forefront of a high-growth category. A seasoned leader in the multi-unit restaurant industry with a strong track record of building high-performing teams and award-winning brands, John has spent his career focused on strengthening brands through differentiated positioning and guest-centric execution. From launching new store prototypes to developing category-leading innovation, his ability to integrate data-driven strategies with brand culture has set the foundation for sustained growth.
Before joining Playa Bowls, John was an active board member and enjoyed consulting and advising brands and investors. Prior to that, he was CEO of Nothing Bundt Cakes during a pivotal time in the brand’s growth and innovation strategies. At Del Taco, John served as President and CEO, where he spearheaded a brand repositioning that led to 40% AUV growth driven by five years of positive traffic. His leadership earned him the Golden Chain Award, and the team’s menu innovation efforts were recognized at MenuMasters.
John holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and stays actively involved in the industry through leadership panels and advisory roles. Passionate about mentorship, he is currently guiding three young executives and has mentored over a dozen throughout his career. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and embracing the active, community-driven lifestyle embodied by Playa Bowls.
Abby Taylor
Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer
Abby Taylor is Co-Founder and CBO of Playa Bowls, New Jersey’s original superfruit bowl franchise. Avid surfers, Abby and Playa Bowls co-founder Rob Giuliani conceptualized the company while exploring surf breaks around the world, where they noticed that versions of superfruit acai and pitaya bowls feature prominently in the surfer diet.
Inspired by the unique flavors and driven by their desire to share the delicious healthy discovery with family and friends, Abby and Rob brought their own twist on bowls back to the Jersey Shore, setting up the first Playa Bowls location – a single umbrella stand on the boardwalk. A fine artist by training with a BFA from Salisbury University, Abby also oversees the creative identity of the Playa Bowls brand from the design of each of the 200+ franchise locations to the menus.
In 2019, Abby was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and received the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Regional Award for Innovation. When she’s not at Playa Bowls, Abby is surfing Playa Maria in Rincon, Puerto Rico or the waves in her hometown of Bradley Beach, New Jersey.
Julie Klinger
Chief Operating Officer
Julie Klinger is a dynamic executive with a passion for hospitality, franchising, and business growth. With extensive experience in multi-unit operations, human resources and brand expansion, she has built a reputation for developing strong teams, driving profitability and leading organizations through transformational change.
As Chief Operating Officer of Playa Bowls, Julie oversees franchise and company-owned operations, human resources, learning and development, and operations services. She is committed to strengthening Playa Bowls as a leading superfruit bowl concept by cultivating m a strong culture, enhancing efficiency, supporting franchisees and introducing new brand strategies. With a hands-on, people-first approach, she works closely with teams to elevate the guest experience and ensure sustainable profitable growth.
Julie has held executive leadership roles at Nothing Bundt Cakes, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Chili’s Bar & Grill, Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill and Romano’s Macaroni Grill. She earned a degree in Hospitality Management from Valencia College, studied Human Resources at Rollins College, and completed the Women’s Senior Leadership Program at Northwestern Kellogg. A dedicated servant leader, she is passionate about mentoring future industry professionals and volunteers with GLEAM, a global hospitality mentorship network. Based in Orlando, Julie enjoys spending time with her husband, Matt, and her extended family. She loves traveling, kayaking, and embracing the outdoors—always living by her favorite motto: "A good day on the water is always an awesome day!"
Jayson Tipp
Chief Development Officer (CDO)
Mr. Tipp has served in this role since September 2023. Before joining Playa Bowls, Mr. Tipp was an independent consultant from January 2023. Before that, Mr. Tipp was Chief Marketing Officer of Pokeworks.
From January 2021 to September 2021, Mr. Tipp was Chief Growth Officer for Perfect Company. From June 2019 to January 2021, Mr. Tipp served as Chief Customer Officer for Bridg. From June 2018 to June 2019, Mr. Tipp was the Chief Executive Officer of Pincho Holdings, LLC.
Tony Reaman
Chief Financial Officer
Tony Reaman brings visionary financial leadership and a passion for strategic growth to his role as Chief Financial Officer at Playa Bowls, the nation’s leading superfruit bowl brand. With more than 20 years of experience across founder-led, private equity-backed, and Fortune 500 companies, Tony is an accomplished leader known for turning complex financial data into smart, scalable decisions. At Playa, he’s focused on strengthening the financial strategy and analytics that support the brand’s rapid expansion and entrepreneurial momentum.
Before joining Playa Bowls, Tony served as CFO at Luna Grill, where he led transformative financial strategies that drove record profitability and streamlined company-wide planning. He also held the role of Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning at Corner Bakery Café, where he led acquisition strategy, pricing optimization, and operational modeling efforts. Earlier in his career, Tony held leadership roles at McAlister’s Deli, The Pantry, Inc., and Blockbuster Inc., and has served as a trusted consultant to a range of restaurant operators navigating growth and transformation.
Tony holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Finance concentration from Colorado State University. A true operator at heart with a strategist’s mindset, he thrives in fast-paced environments where growth and structure go hand in hand.
Kate Carroll
Vice President Franchise Operations
Kate Carroll began serving in this role on April 15, 2024. From April 2022 to December 2023, Mrs. Carroll served as Vice President of Operations at Heyday in New York, New York.
From December 2019 to January 2022, Mrs. Carroll served as Chief Operating Officer at Movati Athletic in Ontario, Canada. From August 2016 to November 2019, Mrs. Carroll served as Senior Vice President of Operations at Movati Athletic in Ontario, Canada.
