Popular smoothie chain comes to Maize Road

Photo by Ainsley Cramer

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is now open on Maize Road next to Mattress. Tomorrow, October 15, they will sell $1.99 smoothies all day to celebrate their grand opening. “We want people to come into the store for this to be their tropical escape,” said Jenni Courtney. “To take a drink of their smoothie and feel like they’re on vacation.”

Ainsley Cramer and Ava Green, Contributing Reporters
October 14, 2021

Is there really a time of year when you can’t enjoy a sweet smoothie or a fresh flatbread?

With the brand new Tropical Smoothie Cafe now open on Maize Road, everyone can enjoy something from their  menu.

The first Tropical Smoothie Cafe opened in Tallahassee, Fla., by Eric and Delora Jenrich and David Walker in 1998. The restaurant has spread to 44 states since then.

Graphic by Ava Green and Ainsley Cramer

After Dickey’s Barbeque closed in April 2019 due to a fire, the arrival of a new store has been anticipated by Wichitans, so the opening of Tropical Smoothie Cafe has been long awaited since it was announced in March 2021.

The restaurant had its soft opening Monday. The store is in front of Academy Sports and beside Mattress Firm. Wichitans Carrie Edwards and Ann Pyles stopped by to try the new restaurant for dinner this week.

“You know there’s not really smoothie places over here, so I would say that I think it’ll do good,” said Edwards.

In Wichita, the franchise is owned by Aaron and Jenni Courtney, who also own Hurts Donut on west 21st Street. They have dreamed of owning a Tropical Smoothie Cafe since they were in college and hope to make it a relaxing place for customers.

Tropical Smoothie employees work to make delicious products and have quick service for their guests. Each employee had a specific job to create the smoothie. On the first day of opening, the drive thru was full of cars and wrapped around the front of the parking lot. (Photo by Ava Green)

“We just want to be a fun place that people can come in and kinda take a break from the realities of life and enjoy just kind of the tropical mindset of it and be able to relax and hangout and just enjoy good healthy food,” Jenni Courtney said.

The Courtneys plan on opening their second Tropical Smoothie Cafe location in 2022.

“I can’t say where it’s at quite yet, but we have really big plans for Wichita,” said Jenni Courtney.