They established their west-side restaurant. Now, franchisees are ready to open out east
.jpg "Aaron and Jenni Courtney will open their second Tropical Smoothie Cafe on Friday, this one at 21st and Webb on Wichita’s east side. They got help from their boys Judah, left, and Porter.")
Aaron and Jenni Courtney are among the Wichita franchisees who made the rare move of starting out on the west side then moving east.
On Friday, they’ll make their east-side presence known.
The Courtneys, who opened a Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 2768 Maize Road in October 2021, on Friday will open the doors to a second one at 9730 E. 21st St. It’s in the endcap of the strip center at 21st and Webb Road that also has Crafted.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe is known for its big menu of smoothies with options for add-ins like pea protein and vitamin C. It also offers a food menu with items including flatbreads, quesadillas, sandwiches, wraps and salads.
Though opening day is on Friday, the Courtneys say they’ll have their grand opening the following weekend, May 19-21, and that’s when they’ll offer celebratory specials. On Friday, May 19, smoothies will be $1.99. On Saturday, May 20, flatbreads will be $3.99. And on Sunday, May 21, customers will be able to get a flatbread and smoothie combo for $5.
Also, the first 50 people in the lobby on Saturday, May 20, get free smoothies for a year, which equals one a week.
The Courtneys, who also own Hurts Donut at 7010 W. 21st St., say they’re not sure what the next couple of years hold for them. They’re considering opening more Tropical Smoothie Cafes in the area but also might try non-restaurant businesses.
The hours for the cafe, which also has a drive-through, are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a chain that originated in Destin, Florida, and it now has more than 1,200 locations across the country.
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