Business Buzz
Small businesses are at the heart of our community and as summer comes to an end, many will remain open through the fall as it is one of the best times of the year to visit Sea Isle City. With new businesses opening up in town and our old favorites coming up with creative ways to support our community, we caught up with these store owners for the latest business buzz in Sea Isle City.
Cindy Walsh displays a T-shirt that will help fund the SIC Server Scholarship.
Anchored in Sea Isle City
4000 Pleasure Avenue, Sea Isle City
609-225-3143 • anchoredinsic.com
The Anchored in Sea Isle City store recently announced its SIC Server Scholarship Program that gives high school and college students who work in the City’s food or bar service industry the opportunity to be awarded $1,000. Owner Cindy Walsh came up with the idea in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and launched the scholarship program Aug. 1. The winner will be announced Sept. 7.
“We love our restaurants in Sea Isle City, and we frequent them all the time,” Walsh says. “We felt their pain this year with the pandemic. Our store was fortunate enough to be open in mid-June, but the restaurants are still dependent upon the weather, and then Isaias hit – power outages, flooding, you name it. Growing up, I spent my summers working from morning until night to make my money to go back to school in the fall. I know the kids depend on the tips, and I can’t imagine not having that revenue to head back to school.”
Scholarship applicants must be between a rising junior in high school and a rising senior in college, must work a minimum of 20 hours a week in food or bar service, and must maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher. Applications are available at Anchored in Sea Isle City and must be received by Sept. 2 to be considered.
Funds for the scholarship program are raised through sales of the “2020 Legends” bar T-shirts that feature local bars and restaurants of the present and past. The shirts are available in a variety of colors and sizes. The short-sleeve shirt retails for $26, the long-sleeve for $36. Shirts are available for purchase in the store or online at anchoredinsic.com. Any money left from the proceeds this year will be applied to next year’s scholarship fund.
Joe Wallash recently opened a Playa Bowls franchise here.
Playa Bowls
33 42nd Street, Sea Isle City
609-478-3471 • playabowls.com
Robert Giuliani and Abby Taylor, who are both Jersey Shore natives and longtime surfers, created the Playa Bowls concept in Belmar and have grown their business to include more than 80 stores nationwide. An old friend of theirs, Joe Wallash, recently opened Playa Bowls in Sea Isle City this summer after searching for the perfect spot for his fifth franchise location.
“Sea Isle City has been near and dear to my heart for as long as I can remember,” says Wallash. “I went to kindergarten at St. Joe’s in the church basement and continued there for grade school from first through eighth grade, and I remember playing street hockey at the 60th Street hockey rink as a kid. So, I have definitely always wanted to open a location in Sea Isle City. When we found this location, it was perfect, and I couldn’t be more excited to get involved with this community.”
Wallash has been in the industry since 2012, starting with the Smoothie Shack inside Coffee Talk in Stone Harbor. At that time, his business offered one type of acai bowl and smoothies, and carried just four fruits – bananas, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. In 2014, he moved his business to a shop inside the Harbor Square Mall.
When he and his wife were approached by Giuliani and Taylor to join them in the Playa Bowls franchise, it was a no-brainer. They opened a Stone Harbor franchise first, followed by Cherry Hill and Ocean City. This summer, they opened two more in Wildwood and Sea Isle City.
“One great thing we love about Playa Bowls is that it’s our own proprietary blend – we offer 75% more acai to its base than most others in this business,” says Wallash. “We offer a wide variety of bowls, all fruit-based, juices, oatmeal, smoothies and if there is something you want customized or have a dietary restriction, we can do it! It is your bowl, your way. We want you to have the best customer experience possible.”
Playa Bowls crafts each menu item using fresh ingredients. The menu offers a variety of bowls including acai, pitaya, coconut, green, chia, banana, and oatmeal. There are several styles of smoothies and juices, too. Customers have the option to order online and pick up in the store or order at the counter. There are tables outside for customers.
Wallash and the Playa Bowls company are committed to giving back and being involved with their communities. During the pandemic, they delivered bowls to local hospitals including Shore Medical Center, Cape Regional, Cooper Hospital, and more. This summer, Playa Bowls is also running some fun incentives including the golden spoon promotion. Customers who are lucky enough to receive a golden spoon with their order will receive a free bowl on their next visit.
Playa Bowls is open daily and plans to remain open this fall. Check out the menu and order ahead online at playabowls.com.
