Restaurant chain targets area for expansion

Existing Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisees will develop more locations in Tampa.

By Business Observer Staff
| 10:29 a.m. October 14, 2019
| 2 Free Articles Remaining!

Two more Tropical Smoothie Cafes are coming to Tampa in the near future as the Atlanta-based company targets the area for growth. Courtesy photo.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

TAMPA — Tropical Smoothie Cafe fans will soon have more locations to choose from: Existing franchisees Akash and Akshay Patel have signed a deal to open two additional restaurants in Tampa.

According to a press release, Atlanta-based Tropical Smoothie Cafe awarded 64 franchise agreements in the third quarter of 2019. Six more restaurants — to be developed by existing franchisee Zarko Stojanovski — will be coming to Orlando as part of the flurry of activity.

In the release, the company says it expects to sign 200 franchise agreements, open 130 cafes and grow same-store sales by 5% by the end of 2019. Year to date, it has has opened 90 cafes and awarded 179 franchise agreements.

“Our focus on operational execution and delivering a remarkable guest experience have been integral to the growth we are experiencing,” states Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe LLC, in the release. “We are privileged that new franchisees recognize our commitment to the franchise community and that existing franchisees continue to reinvest in the brand by executing additional multi-unit agreements. This is a testament to our support center team, leadership and passionate franchisees that position Tropical Smoothie Cafe as a brand with tremendous value to small business owners.”