Franchising
Ten Years In. It's Time to Bring City Bowls to Your Town.
We started in 2017 with a single food truck and a hunch that Birmingham would show up for superfruit bowls. It did. That truck became a storefront in Vestavia Hills, and that storefront became seven locations across Alabama.
We are franchising across the Southeast, and we are looking for owner-operators — people who want to run the shop, not just fund it. Most of the region is still open.
Register Your InterestTop 10 Reasons Franchisees Invest in a City Bowls Franchise
- 01
Lower cost of entry
A $30,000 initial franchise fee — below what most açaí and smoothie-bowl brands charge to get in the door.
- 02
5% royalty, not 6%
A full point under the segment norm. On every dollar you take, more of it stays in your store.
- 03
We make our açaí fresh, in house
Not shipped in as a pre-made mix. No added preservatives. It is the difference customers taste first and remember.
- 04
Territory is genuinely open
We are early enough that most of the Southeast is unclaimed. You are choosing a market, not taking what is left.
- 05
Open in about six months
A 90–120 day build-out and a financing process that typically runs 30 days. From signature to first bowl is months, not years.
- 06
A higher average ticket
Coffee, toast and fresh juices alongside the bowls. More reasons to come in, more in the basket, and a day that does not end at lunch.
- 07
Ten years of operating history
We opened our first food truck in 2017. Everything we would ask you to do, we have already done ourselves.
- 08
Seven locations we run ourselves
Not a brand licensed out from day one. The playbook comes from stores we own and operate.
- 09
Built around owner-operators
Our support assumes you are in the shop. That shapes the training, the field visits and who we say yes to.
- 10
Focused on the Southeast
We are building density in one region rather than scattering units across the country. Closer support, shared marketing, a brand people recognize.
Seven Locations, and Room to Grow
Every shop below is one we own and operate. The rest of the Southeast is open territory.
Prefer a list? Every location, with hours and directions, is on the locations page.
Owner-Operators, Not Absentee Investors
We care more about who runs the shop than what is on a résumé. The people who do this well tend to share a few things.
- You want to run it, not just fund it. Our strongest locations have an owner who is in the shop, knows the regulars and notices when something slips.
- You know your market. You can tell us where the morning traffic goes, which streets people actually walk, and why a particular corner works.
- Hospitality is a plus, not a prerequisite. Food service experience helps. Caring how people feel when they walk out matters more, and it is harder to teach.
- You are building something local. Every shop we have opened became part of its neighborhood. That only happens when the owner wants it to.
Meet the Team
A small team, and the same people you will deal with from your first conversation through your opening week.
Cory Dill
CEO & Founder
Jonathan Danforah
Vice President
Kennedy Danforah
Chief Information Officer
Tori Dill
Chief Financial Officer
From First Conversation to First Bowl
- 1
Tell Us About Yourself
Fill in the form below. The market you have in mind is the part we are most interested in.
- 2
Financing, About 30 Days
We will introduce you to lenders who know the format. Most applications run about a month.
- 3
Build-Out, 90 to 120 Days
Site approval, design, permits and fit-out, with our team alongside you the whole way.
- 4
Open, in About Six Months
Training before you open and someone from our team on site through your first week of trading.
Register Your Interest
Tell us about yourself and the market you have in mind. Your message goes straight to Cory Dill, our founder — or email us directly at franchise@thecitybowls.com.
Brick and Mortar Not in Your Budget?
City Bowls started on four wheels, and a truck is still a real way to begin. Lower cost to enter, no lease to sign, and you can go to where the people already are — games, festivals, campuses, markets. It is also the fastest way to find out whether your market wants bowls before you commit to a building.
Mention the food truck in your message and we will talk you through how it works.
Ask About a Truck