Tropical Smoothie Cafe opens 1,000th location

Tropical Smoothie Cafe celebrated the opening of its 1,000th store this week with a location in Flower Mound, Texas, according to a company press release.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is on pace to open 130 franchise locations in 2021. So far this year, the chain has signed agreements for 249 locations. These agreements position the brand to reach its goal of 1,500 cafes by the end of 2024.

"I like to say we're the biggest brand you've never heard of," Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, said in the release. "We've been quietly crushing sales and growth records, thanks to our incredible franchisees who have a passion for this brand and want to open more locations across our target markets."

Franchisee DYNE Hospitality Group, which owns the Flower Mound location, has 13 other Tropical Smoothie Cafes in Texas and 70 more across Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma. DYNE Hospitality Group opened its first two locations in 2011 and will open 10 to 12 cafes in 2021.

"Since we opened our first location, we've seen the enormous potential of this brand, and we've wholeheartedly supported the Tropical Smoothie Cafe mission to 'Inspire Better' in the communities we serve through our amazing food and smoothies," Nick Crouch, DYNE Hospitality group co-CEO, said in the release. "It's an honor that we are opening the 1,000th cafe, but what's even more exciting is the growth and awareness we're experiencing across the entire system. It's an extraordinary time to be a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisee."

Smoothie Cafe includes an extensive food menu that features made-to-order wraps, flatbreads, sandwiches, bowls and quesadillas, along with LTOs such as the Green Goddess Flatbread that comes with a choice of chicken, shrimp or plant-based proteins.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Atlanta, was recognized on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers and Shakers list.