Rush Bowls is officially coming to Berkeley. The Colorado-based franchise—a fast-casual chain known for its meals-in-a-bowl crafted from the finest fruits and vegetables, topped with granola and honey, and blended with protein, vitamins, and other nutritious ingredients—has signed a development deal to bring Rush Bowls to Berkeley, California, slated to open early 2018.
This announcement comes on the heels of Rush Bowls’ official entry into Nashville, Tennessee, in the second half of 2017 and adds to the brand’s robust pipeline. Locations in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Georgia, Missouri, Oregon, and Texas are slated to open over the next year, in addition to several more Colorado-based restaurants.
The Berkeley restaurant will be owned and operated by local entrepreneur Kenny Noori. Originally from Afghanistan, Noori moved to the U.S. in 2009, where he spent several years operating a car dealership before deciding to team up with Rush Bowls and bring the concept to Berkeley. While Noori’s agreement is for one restaurant, he eventually plans to open as many as eight to 10 locations throughout the Bay Area.
“I am honored to be one of Rush Bowls’ first franchisees and so thrilled to introduce the brand to the thriving Berkeley community,” Noori says. “Rush Bowls is not just a restaurant, it’s a lifestyle. This will be a great opportunity for us to connect and build relationships with others in the area who are passionate about great-tasting, healthy food.”
Over the past 13 years, Rush Bowls has cultivated a loyal following with its menu specializing in healthy, all-natural, fruit-blended meals-in-a-bowl for those on the go. Bowls are also available in vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free options, and anything can be custom made to cater to any and all dietary needs.
“Our number one priority is 100 percent all-natural nutrition, which makes Rush Bowls different from smoothie concepts. Our meals are crafted from the finest fruits and vegetables, we hand-grind our own peanut butter and make our jam in house; we do this to ensure the highest quality and taste for our customers,” Pudalov adds. “For these reasons we’ve garnered quite a following in Boulder and Denver, and we’re thrilled to welcome Kenny to team as he brings Rush Bowls to Berkeley—a city that shares many characteristics with Boulder.”
