Frutta Bowls shutting down Shrewsbury store

SHREWSBURY - Frutta Bowls, which was bought out of bankruptcy by a new owner in 2020, is closing its store at the Grove at Shrewsbury on Sunday, according to a post on Instagram.

A corporate spokesperson said the lease at the franchised location was not renewed. The nearest Frutta Bowls location is at Middletown Plaza on Route 35 in Middletown.

The announcement was made on Monday on the restaurant's Instagram page.

"It has been our greatest pleasure to serve the community, and we would like to thank all of our amazing customers ... we so appreciate your business over the years!" according to the social media post.

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The restaurant, which is located between MAC and Free People, opened in 2018.

"We are also so blessed to have had the most incredible staff. You are all truly like family, and you made this store such a happy place to work every day," the post states. 

Frutta's background: Freehold-based Frutta Bowls rescued from bankruptcy by new owner

Frutta Bowls, which specializes in acai berry bowls, was purchased in December 2020 by Saladworks' parent company, Centre Lane Partners LLC, at a bankruptcy auction. The company, now based in St. Petersburg, Florida, was renamed WOWorks and includes Saladworks, The Simple Greek, and Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh.

A fast-growing company with 49 stores in 16 states by early 2019, Freehold-based  Frutta Bowls Franchising LLC filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Trenton in February 2019.

In Monmouth and Ocean counties, the remaining Frutta Bowls stores are found in Freehold Township, Howell, Marlboro, Middletown, Toms River and Wall.

© Courtesy: Frutta Bowls Inside of a Frutta Bowls restaurant

David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for more than 20 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Frutta Bowls shutting down Shrewsbury store