Treat giveaway to preview opening of healthy snack shop Everbowl

Uptown’s newest treats shop, Everbowl, will celebrate its opening with a giveaway of its signature “craft superfood” bowls between 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14.

The shop’s official grand opening will be at 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 15.

Everbowl has set up in Westerville at 15 N. State St., most recently home to Shirley’s Popcorn. But visitors will scarcely believe they are in the same space, after a down-to-the-studs renovation that completely reoriented the interior.

Gone is the huge counter that vertically divided the front of the shop in half. The prep area has been moved to the back of the building, leaving a roomy serving and seating area on the State Street side.

Local entrepreneurs Josh Smith and Zach Dimmitt are partnering as Central Ohio franchisees of the Southern California-based, conscious eating chain.

This week they open their flagship stores – here in Uptown, and on Lane Avenue in Upper Arlington – and they plan to build out to eight locations in the area over the next few years, Smith said.

Everbowl is a Southern California-based restaurant group that offers a wide array of plant and fruit-based concoctions of “stuff that’s been around forever.” Think açaí (pronounced aa-sah-yee, for the uninitiated) – a superfruit berry from Brazil – as well as pitaya, mango and more.

The menu includes an extensive list of featured bowls and smoothies, or customers can build their own step-by-step, similar to ordering at casual fast-food stores like Chipotle, Fusian or Piada.

The ingredients are all healthy and delicious, Smith said, and offer guilt-free treat options for the health-conscious.

The once exotic ingredients in their bowls and smoothies are becoming more and more popular as people pursue physically active lifestyles, and want healthy food to fuel their bodies.

Will the “crafted superfood” creations replace Americans’ doughnuts and coffee for breakfast? Ice cream treats for youth teams after a big ball game? Smith believes things are heading in that direction.

“There’s a time and a place for everything,” Smith said. “When it comes to youth, when it comes to sports, I just think it’s a great option.”

Everbowl will open Uptown with extended hours – offering its healthy snack options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and beyond. Standard hours will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. But all those hours could be stretched to accommodate customers as the shop gets established.

Find more information at Everbowl.com. or visit @Everbowl_Columbus_Ohio on Facebook.

CAPTIONS

TOP: From left, Everbowl Columbus owners Zach Dimmitt and Josh Smith with members of the staff of their Uptown location opening Sept. 15, in a tent they set up in front of the shop set at the August 4th Friday Festival Uptown Aug. 25.

BELOW: Check out Everbowl’s menu and stock shots of a few specialty bowls.