Playa Bowls adds leaders to support nationwide growth beyond 400 shops

Playa Bowls added new leadership as it crossed the 400-shop mark, a sign that the chain’s next growth phase will depend on more than glossy branding and new locations. The company said the expansion is meant to strengthen the support behind store openings, technology, digital marketing, and franchise development, the kinds of systems that can determine whether crews get clear training and steady help or end up absorbing the strain of rushed growth.

On May 27, 2026, Playa Bowls promoted Jayson Tipp from chief development officer to chief growth officer, giving him responsibility for development, technology, and digital marketing while he leads the company’s enterprise growth strategy. Patrick Turek was named chief development officer and took over franchise development, real estate, design, and construction. Tim Hackbardt became chief marketing officer, and Mark Foulds was named vice president of digital marketing. Turek had previously held development leadership roles at Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and Panera Bread, while Hackbardt had held senior marketing jobs at Del Taco, Inspire Brands, and BJ’s Restaurants. Foulds had worked in digital marketing and loyalty at Inspire Brands and Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux.

The leadership changes came as Playa Bowls pushed into a bigger national footprint. The chain said in 2024 that eight multi-unit franchise agreements would add 54 shops to its pipeline, including first-time expansion into Illinois and additional development in Miami, New York, Boston, Phoenix, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Its franchise materials now describe a brand with 400-plus locations, a 4.7-star Google rating across more than 16,000 reviews, average unit sales of $1.12 million or more, and typical stores sized at 1,000 to 1,500 square feet. The company also says the target total investment is under $500,000 and that the model uses no grease trap, no hood, and no fryers, details that matter for the labor mix and operating pace inside each shop.

The chain’s ownership structure has also changed quickly. Sycamore Partners acquired Playa Bowls in September 2024, when the company had more than 250 locations across 22 states. By September 2025, it had more than 340 locations and a refreshed executive team focused on franchise growth, guest experience, and operational excellence. Playa Bowls said it planned to open its 400th shop at Atlantic Park in Virginia Beach on May 15, 2026, a milestone that underscored how fast the brand has moved from its 2014 start in Belmar, New Jersey.

For store teams, the real test now is whether those executive promotions translate into cleaner openings, steadier scheduling, better training, and faster support when a shop is short-staffed. Rapid expansion can either build a stronger path for managers and crew or leave the front line carrying the load of growth without enough back-end support.