Meet Alexandra Arguello | owner I Playa Bowls (Davie, Coral Springs & West Boca)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexandra Arguello and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexandra, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I feel that Mark Zuckerberg said it best “The biggest risk is not taking any risk”. I grew up in a home where both of my parents stayed at one of their very first jobs… in fact, they are still employed by those same companies now 36 years later. I have always made my parents nervous with my entrepreneurial spirit and creative risk taking. My involvement with Playa Bowls started the same way. I was making six figures working as a paralegal in a law firm and was offered the job as the Fort Lauderdale manager at HALF of my salary. I did it. I walked away from everything I had just studied at UM and risked it all for a fruit shop. I started from the bottom as a Playa babe cutting fruit and making bowls and ran with their marketing brining the attention of many. I quickly fell in love with the concept and decided that if I had my own store I could do it better. So I did… We opened our first store Playa Bowls Davie and it is now the highest grossing store in South Florida. We partnered with amazing people and have since opened Playa Bowls Coral Springs and Playa Bowls Delray and are very excited to soon open our doors to the people of West Boca!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I would describe myself as being born with main character energy as funny as that may sound. have always been extremely outgoing and ambitious and eager to learn new things and roles.

From a young age I wanted to sell… I would often set up lemonade stands “employing” the younger neighbors on my block or rake leaves or clean the neighbors’ children’s room for money.

Growing up in the world of dance I was taught to have confidence and poise that really shaped the way I would handle a lot of things as a teenager and young adult. I carried that entrepreneurial spirit into adulthood where I would begin my first dance studio for teens and young adults by reaching out to people on Facebook who listed dance as an interest. I somehow managed to book us events at local restaurants and happenings.

Starbucks was my first job and they loved putting me in drive thru. Apparently tips went up when I was there. I love people. I love customer service and most importantly I loved to strive to be the best. Any job I had I went above and beyond staying extra hours and challenging myself to learn the tasks of my managers and peers.

At the age of 18 I was hired by American Express customer service/sales and quickly became one of the top sellers in our branch. At this point I decided to follow my uncle, who was an attorney into the legal field. I received my Paralegal certification from University of Miami and got my first job as a paralegal shortly thereafter. I would stay in that position working myself to the “top” managing a group of 40 others before deciding that my life began to feel very stressful and monotonous. It was then that I stumbled into the Playa Bowls in Fort Lauderdale not knowing that my life would change forever.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I grew up here in Fort Lauderdale so my itinerary is a bit bias to this area.

I would have to start my morning at the local coffee shop Cyth & Co where the coffee is strong and the vibes are immaculate (not to mention their cooked to perfection butter croissant) from there we would have to go to one of South Florida’s best beaches – Fort Lauderdale beach for a little restorative sound therapy and relaxation. I’d probably talk her into taking a Vinyasa class with me at the BEST yoga studio in South Florida, Anuttara Yoga with Philip Christodlou. After hot yoga we would HAVE to re-fuel at Playa Bowls with arguably the world’s best acai bowls and smoothies ( I told you this would be biased). Besides these daily things I would make it a point to visit Louie Bossi’s on Las Olas as well as my FAVORITE steak in the world at Council Oak in Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino which is has a whole days worth of activities in and of itself.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost none of this would be possible without my husband, Ricky Arguello, who also quit his cushy law firm job for my acai slinging dreams as well as our amazing partners Darrell Casoria and Joseph Coakley.

Furthermore I would be nothing without the support of my family who has helped make being a mother of 3 while pursuing my dreams effortless and supported.

How could I not try my very best when my grandparents migrated here from Cuba with nothing. My mom always told me how my grandfather only had enough change to put my grandmother and uncle on the bus and he would run along side since he couldn’t afford for them all to ride. My grandparents worked hard and built their wealth and dreams. Likewise my parents sacrificed everything that so my sisters and I could dance and live the life we wanted – dancing, soccer, Disney! You name it… It is my duty to uphold my family’s hard work ethic.

Website: www.playabowls.com

Instagram: @playabowlswestboca