by Katie Stackable | Jun 13, 2016 | Blog
BY THE CASTLE ROCK NEWS-PRESS – Zak Solis, 19, has dreamed of owning his own restaurant since he was a kid. That dream will become a reality this fall, when he opens Vitality Bowls at the Promenade at Castle Rock.
“I’m just excited to finally have my dreams come true,” Solis said, while peering across the parking lot from Kneaders Bakery at the space his restaurant will occupy. read more
Solis has been cooking since he was 10 years old. His love of food came from watching his family cook and helping them in the kitchen.
When he turned 16, Solis begged his parents to lend him money to buy and start operating a food truck. But that didn’t happen. So, when the Sedalia resident graduated from Sky View Academy in 2015, he started working in restaurants with the goal to one day own his own.
Solis’ father, Sael, helped by becoming a business partner with his son. The co-owners are aiming for a September opening.
“Zak and Sael are exactly the right entrepreneurs to grow the brand in Castle Rock,” said Tara Gilad, co-founder of Vitality Bowls. “By combining Zak’s passion for the culinary industry and Sael’s experiences in business management, this duo is set up to achieve great success.”
Vitality Bowls, which originated in Northern California, is known for a dynamic café vibe and superfood menu. The fast-casual dining chain specializes in açaí bowls that feature a thick blend of the Amazon’s antioxidant-rich berry, topped with a variety of superfoods.
Zak Solis found the eatery while perusing the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver.
“My first bite of an açaí bowl at Vitality Bowls was a game-changer,” Solis said. “It’s a punch of flavor. I want to bring that same experience to everyone in the market.”
The menu features a variety of options, such as the Energy Bowl, with organic açaí, goji berries and bee pollen; the Dragon Bowl, featuring organic pitaya, coconut milk and bananas; and the signature Vitality Bowl, with organic açaí, strawberries and honey. Additionally, the brand recently announced additions to its kids’ menu. Fresh juices, organic soups, panini and salads are also offered.
There are more than 20 Vitality Bowls restaurants across the United States with 40-plus franchise units under development. The Castle Rock store will the the second in Colorado.
But the ambitious 19-year old said this is just the beginning. Following the fall opening in Castle Rock, the father-son duo is planning to open three additional locations in close proximity of Castle Rock.
“I feel like this is a perfect spot for it because Colorado is booming with population and Castle Rock keeps growing,” Solis said. “I’m excited to open here.”
by Katie Stackable | Jun 6, 2016 | Blog
BY MIAMI SMITH – Vitality Bowls serves huge fruit bowls with natural ingredients like: honey, bee pollen, granola and nuts. All the bowls are serve cold but they do not contain ice and most of the ingredients are organic, no added sugar, no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Bowls come in two sizes (medium and large), both seemed huge to us, so unless you are extremely hungry, we suggest you order medium size and share it with somebody. They also offer smoothies, paninis and coffee, among other things. A healthy choice packed with vitamins and minerals. read more
by Katie Stackable | Jun 2, 2016 | Blog
BY THE DENVER BUSINESS JOURNAL – While some of Zak Solis’ friends headed to college in 2015 and others went off to work, the new high school graduate made a more unusual request of his parents: Could you please buy me a food business?
Solis had started cooking at age 10 and had worked in his parents’ Manitou Springs restaurant one summer. After he spent time working in a nearby pizzeria, they decided that the young man was ready.
And late this summer or early this fall, Solis will open a franchised location of the Vitality Bowls Superfood Cafe chain in the Promenade at Castle Rock retail complex. read more
Tara Gilad, founder and COO of the California-headquartered company, acknowledged that taking a chance on a 19-year-old franchisee is unusual; the next-youngest franchisee in the chain is 31.
But after meeting Solis and his parents — and being assured of support for the business by his mother, a vice president of marketing — she felt he was worth the risk, and is working closely with him as he prepares to open just the second Vitality Bowls location in Colorado.
“It’s pretty amazing that he, at such a young age, has that passion. His sanctuary is in a kitchen,” Gilad said of Solis, who had asked even before he graduated high school to get a food truck — a request shot down by his folks.
“He has determination. He has drive. He’s super-responsible. He has super work ethic. It’s amazing he’s only 19,” Gilad said.”
Blind in one eye, Solis was not a good student in the classroom setting. But from a young age he took to cooking, putting his own touches on home recipes even before he hit high school and watching hours of cooking videos online to better perfect his technique.
He chose Vitality Bowls because he liked the concept — creating a blend out of high- nutrition foods like acai berries and bananas, topping them with additions like granola and honey and serving them for breakfast or lunch — and wanted to serve up healthy foods rather than classic fast-casual recipes.
He’s currently in training at the Cherry Creek location of the chain, even as he is searching for signage and for contractors to put up the Castle Rock store.
Solis isn’t content to follow recipes, however. He already is suggesting some new combinations that the 23-store chain can try, Gilad said. And he’s toying around with added products such as organic dog treats that it could sell to customers.
Solis is aware that he is jumping into business operations at an age when many of his peers are looking for seasonal jobs in similar shops. But he not only believes in a saying his parents taught him — that it’s better to work for yourself than someone else — but also is looking ahead to opening even more locations and expanding his operations.
“I love the feeling, because all my friends are now either in college or just working,” Solis said. “So, knowing that I’m starting what I dreamed about is pretty great.”
by Katie Stackable | May 20, 2016 | Blog
BY NATION’S RESTAURANT NEWS – “We recruit a lot of our top talent through employee referrals. We also offer a fast-paced growth path to corporate positions for those who excel, which can be a huge incentive for career-driven individuals. Our corporate locations also offer an aggressive bonus plan for all managers.” — Tara Gilad, co-founder and COO, Vitality Bowls read more
by Katie Stackable | May 17, 2016 | Blog
BY GOOD DAY SACRAMENTO – Deuce is checking out a new superfood cafe in Roseville!
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