When City Bowls rolled onto the streets of Birmingham in 2017, smoothie bowls were still a relatively new concept for many Alabamians. Founders Cory and Tori Dill introduced locals to colorful açaí bowls topped with fresh fruit, granola and other nutritious ingredients, offering a grab-and-go option that was as vibrant as it was refreshing. What started as a single food truck has since grown into a family-owned business with storefronts across Alabama, proving that a simple idea, paired with a commitment to quality and community, can truly go a long way.

“Our passion has always been to serve food that is packed with both nutrition and flavor, while delivering high-quality customer service each day,” the couple said.

Today, City Bowls has become a familiar name throughout the state, but its story began with a much smaller operation and a willingness to meet customers wherever they were.

Rather than opening a storefront from the beginning, City Bowls launched as a food truck, giving the Dills the flexibility to introduce their concept throughout the Birmingham area. The mobile business traveled to neighborhoods, parks, businesses and local events, serving a menu centered around fresh, wholesome ingredients.

Starting on wheels offered more than flexibility. It gave the team a chance to connect with customers face-to-face and learn what people wanted from their menu. Those early conversations helped shape the business as customers shared their favorite flavors, suggested new toppings and spread the word to friends and family. The food truck became more than just a place to grab breakfast or an afternoon snack. It became a familiar sight at community gatherings and helped establish City Bowls as a local business invested in the people it served.

Although açaí bowls first introduced many customers to City Bowls, the menu has expanded alongside the business. In addition to its signature açaí bowls, the company now offers pitaya bowls made with dragon fruit and green smoothie bowls, giving guests even more options to choose from. Each bowl starts with a fruit-based blend and can be customized with a variety of toppings, including fresh fruit, granola, nut butters and seeds. The build-your-own approach allows customers to tailor each bowl to their tastes, offering something for nearly everyone.

As interest in its nutrient-packed bowls continued to grow, City Bowls quickly became a familiar fixture in Alabama’s restaurant scene. By 2018, demand had outgrown the food truck, prompting the company to open its first brick-and-mortar location in Vestavia Hills. The move created opportunities that weren’t possible on the truck. With additional kitchen space, City Bowls was able to serve more customers, expand its services to include online ordering and catering, and offer indoor seating.

The success of the first storefront laid the foundation for continued expansion. Over the next several years, City Bowls opened locations throughout the Birmingham metro area before bringing its menu to communities across the state. The newest addition is Tuscaloosa, where the brand recently expanded its footprint while continuing its steady growth across Alabama.

Today, customers can find City Bowls in Vestavia Hills, downtown Birmingham, Homewood, Trussville, Brock’s Gap, Samford, Tuscaloosa and Huntsville. The company has also expanded beyond state lines with a location in Gulf Breeze, Florida. While each new location has introduced the brand to a different community, the mission has remained the same as it was when the first food truck began serving bowls in Birmingham.

Part of City Bowls’ success has come from remaining involved in the communities it serves. From its earliest days, the business participated in local events and built relationships through face-to-face interactions with customers. Those connections helped establish trust and encouraged repeat visitors long before the company had multiple storefronts.

Nearly a decade after serving its first customers from a food truck, City Bowls continues to grow while staying rooted in the values that launched the business. What began as an effort to introduce Birmingham to superfruit smoothie bowls has expanded into storefronts across Alabama and beyond, but the focus remains the same: serving fresh, high-quality ingredients while building lasting relationships with the communities that walk through the door.