When the local açai bowl stand LaBowls, run by husband-and-wife team Brian and Sami Campbell, won the Wheeling Heritage Show of Hands crowdfunding pitch competition in May of 2026, neither the business nor Wheeling Heritage knew quite what was in store next…
The idea for the Beyond the Bowl video series, first suggested by the LaBowls team, was simple. They would host a food competition centered around visiting local Wheeling businesses and challenging them to swap kitchens and recreate one another’s signature dishes. The overall goals were both to inspire the community to visit these businesses, and, of course, to entertain! The response was astounding. Half a dozen businesses said yes to the plan and sponsors loved the idea, even asking to be judges!
As planning continued, details solidified. The game would be this: each week, a featured restaurant would recreate one of LaBowls’ beloved signature smoothie bowls. Then, the LaBowls team would recreate one of the restaurant’s menu favorites. The game would not allow coaching, hints, or helping each other at all. Sponsors and celebrity judges would score each dish based on presentation, accuracy, and the all-important question: Would they order it again?
Over the course of the past couple of months, all episodes have been released:
- Episode 1 – The Bridge Tavern
- At The Bridge Tavern, Brian and Sami recreate the Suspension Smash Burger while the Bridge Tavern staff makes the OG LaBowl.
- Episode 2– Avenue Eats
- The LaBowls Team visits Avenue Eats within Waterfront Hall and make the Apple Berry Salad while The Avenue Eats Team recreates the Peachsicle LaBowl.
- Episode 3 – Table 304
- We head to Table 304 where the LaBowls Team creates a Dirty Blueberry Muffin Chai and the Table 304 team makes a Chocolate Covered Strawberry LaBowl.
- Episode 4 – Sarah’s on Main
- The LaBowls Team takes on Sarah’s on Main, recreating Sarah’s famous breakfast burrito while the staff of Sarah’s makes the Savannah Banana LaBowl.
- Episode 5 – Fabio’s
- LaBowls makes pizza! Brian and Sami cook up a pepperoni roll and a thin cheese pizza while the Fabio’s Team recreates the Vanilla Cinnabun LaBowl.
- Episode 6 – Figaretti’s
- In the season finale, Brian and Sami create a Sicilian Chicken Parmesan, and the Figaretti’s staff recreate the first ever LaBowl: the PB&J bowl.
The series works towards one of Wheeling Heritage’s core focus areas: Small Business Development. As a National Heritage Area and a Main Street West Virginia Organization, Wheeling Heritage works hard to uplift and assist local entrepreneurs, whether that means helping them expand or open a downtown storefront, providing funding through the Partnership Grants or Show of Hands programs, or working with them on fun projects like this one to drive business downtown. The goal is always to continue to revitalize our downtown and help make Wheeling a more vibrant place to live, work and play!
These videos celebrate the incredible people behind just a few of Wheeling’s small businesses by highlighting the personalities behind the restaurants and showing what makes each one unique.
Brian and Sami Campbell still have big plans for their business. They still hope to open a brick-and-mortar location to be able to offer more smoothies and juices, but for now just feel thrilled to be part of the wonderful and growing Wheeling small business community.
You can follow LaBowls on social media to stay up to date on where they plan to pop up next, new and specialty flavors, any anything else fun they come up with! As always, we hope this series inspires you to discover new favorites, support local, and see just how much culinary talent our community has to offer.
