Tropical Smoothie Cafe facts for kids
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Exterior of a franchise in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
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Trade name
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Tropical Smoothie Café |
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| Private | |
| Industry | Cafe |
| Genre | Fast casual |
| Founded | 1993 in Destin, Florida, U.S. |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters |
Atlanta, Georgia
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U.S.
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Number of locations
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1,450+ (2024) |
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Area served
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United States |
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Key people
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| Products |
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| Revenue | $500 million |
| Owner | Blackstone |
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Number of employees
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2,000+ (2018) |
Tropical Smoothie Cafe, often called Tropical Smoothie, is a popular restaurant chain in the United States. It has over 1,400 locations across the country. In June 2024, a company called Blackstone became the new owner of Tropical Smoothie Cafe.
How Tropical Smoothie Cafe Started
Tropical Smoothie Cafe started as a small smoothie shop in Florida in 1993. Four years later, in 1997, the company began to offer franchises. This allowed other people to open their own Tropical Smoothie Cafes. The very first franchised store opened in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1998. Today, the main office for Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1999, Tropical Smoothie Cafe added food items like sandwiches and wraps to its menu. As more locations opened, the cafes changed their look. They wanted to feel like a beach house. This meant bright white walls, an open kitchen, fun colors, and tropical art.
The company grew steadily over the years. In 2006, they opened their 200th store in Virginia Beach, Virginia. By 2019, they had opened their 800th location in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
The original founders, Eric and Delora Jenrich and David Walker, knew a lot about running franchises. They used this knowledge to help Tropical Smoothie Cafe grow. They also brought in other experienced people from the food industry.
What's on the Menu
Tropical Smoothie Cafes sell a mix of smoothies and food. About half of their sales come from smoothies, and the other half comes from food items.
In May 2013, Tropical Smoothie Cafe started offering a special plant-based meat option. This was called Beyond Meat. It is made from proteins found in fava beans and peas. In July 2013, Beyond Meat became a regular item on the menu at many locations.
