New York City — Tropical Smoothie Cafe has signed a 40-unit franchise development deal across New York and Connecticut with franchisee Aurify Kingstar. The first location is planned to open in early 2027. With more than 1,750 cafes and a robust development pipeline, the brand is on track to open its 1,800th location by the end of 2026.
As part of its continued investment in franchise development, Tropical Smoothie Cafe recently appointed Joe Sieve to the position of chief development & growth officer. The 40-unit deal will expand Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s presence across Albany, Westchester County and the Bronx, N.Y., as well as western Connecticut.
“New York and Connecticut represent tremendous growth opportunities for Tropical Smoothie Cafe and reflect the potential ahead as we enter our next phase of growth,” says Max Wetzel, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC. “Aurify Kingstar brings the restaurant experience, infrastructure and proven multi-unit development capabilities we look for in growth partners. Together, we can meaningfully expand our presence in the Northeast while continuing to deliver the guest experience and community connection that define our brand.”
Born on a beach in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual restaurant brand with better-for-you food and smoothies. Today, the Atlanta-based brand has grown to nearly 1,800 locations across 44 states. For more information, visit TropicalSmoothieCafe.com.
Aurify Kingstar (AKS) is a multi-brand restaurant investment and operating company with more than 25 years of experience building and operating restaurant concepts. Co-founded by John Rigos and Andy Stern, AKS has developed, operated or acquired over 300 restaurants, including franchise brands like Five Guys, Wingstop and more. Headquartered in New York City, AKS continues to grow a portfolio of best-in-class restaurant brands through disciplined, operator-led execution. For more information, visit aurifykingstar.com.
SOURCE: Tropical Smoothie Cafe