A Columbia location of this growing restaurant chain is planned near USC’s arena
A growing restaurant chain known for acai bowls, smoothies, cold brew coffee and more is planning a new shop in a popular development right next to the University of South Carolina’s basketball arena.
Playa Bowls, which has locations in numerous states, is planning a shop at 737 Gadsden St. Unit 103 in Columbia, according to City of Columbia public records. That’s on the first floor of the Gateway 737 development near Colonial Life Arena.
City records indicate Playa Bowls filed permits in May for renovations at 737 Gadsden. A city building permit was on the door when a reporter briefly went by Monday. The planned Playa Bowls would be located between a Domino’s Pizza and a Chick-fil-A in the Gateway 737 development.
Playa Bowls hinted at its plans for a Columbia location in a December 2025 post on Instagram, noting at the time that its shop would be “right by campus.”
The Gateway 737 student housing tower in Columbia features more than 900 beds across 311 apartments in the 650,000-square-foot facility. It features a two-story fitness center, a rooftop lounge and a resort-style pool. Additional businesses along the first floor include a Roxanne’s Market and a Knowledge Perk coffee shop.
Playa Bowls has locations in states across the U.S., with a heavy concentration in the Northeast. Current South Carolina locations include spots in Charleston, Summerville and Mt. Pleasant.
The Playa Bowls menu includes acai bowls, pitaya bowls, oatmeal, smoothies, juices, cold brew coffee and more.
