Business Profile: Tropical Smoothie Cafe

by | Jan 30, 2023 | Business, Restaurants

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is open all day and offers an array of healthy eats you can feel good about — think sandwiches, bowls, wraps, flats, quesadillas, grilled cheeses and, of course, smoothies.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a chain with almost 1,200 locations around the country, but each location is run by someone with a heart for the local community and quality service. Brandon Korman is one of those people.

Moving to North Carolina from New York, Korman and his wife, Deena, began their franchise in Long Leaf Mall more than eight years ago. They also own Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in Porters Neck and Leland. Korman says he loves living in coastal North Carolina because it’s a place where people care, work together and give back to the community.

Tropical Smoothie Quesadilla and Smoothie

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is open all day and offers an array of healthy eats you can feel good about — think sandwiches, bowls, wraps, flats, quesadillas, grilled cheeses and, of course, smoothies. During the holiday season, be sure to snag the limited-edition gingerbread cookie smoothie.

When it comes to community involvement, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is involved in several organizations throughout the community, including No Kid Hungry, The American Heart Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Toys for Tots, Food Bank of Central NC, local schools and other clubs and organizations.

In addition, all the Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations Korman owns helped health workers amid the pandemic by giving away more than 2,000 free smoothies.

“Our mission as a family business is to be part of this community, to make it more tropical and inspire happiness and health,” Korman says. “It’s a national brand with the spirit of family caring. We live here, we own our business here and it’s our sense of togetherness in this community that sets us apart.”

Tropical Smoothie Flatbreads

With an online app, an impressive awards program and a presence on third-party platforms like Grubhub, Uber Eats, DoorDash and Postmates, the cafe makes snagging a healthy meal simple.

And if you’re looking for a caterer for an upcoming event, party or meeting, Tropical Smoothie Cafe can serve up enough smoothies and fare to satiate anywhere from 10 to 500+ people.

Looking ahead, Korman says more Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations are slated to open around the region in the next couple years, with a store opening in Shallotte as soon as March 2023. Stay tropical!

Want to go?
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
2804 College Rd Unit 108, Wilmington
(910) 769-3939

130 Hays Lane, Unit 130, Wilmington
(910) 821-8677

143 Poole Road, Unit B, Leland
(910) 765-1144

Coming March 2023: 123 Smith Avenue, Unit 15, Shallotte
tropicalsmoothiecafe.com

About the author

Anna Beth Adcock

Anna Beth Adcock

Anna Beth Adcock A North Carolina native, I grew up in small-town Sanford before moving to Raleigh to attend N.C. State University. Last year, I lived overseas in Bangkok, Thailand, just recently returning to reside in the City of Oaks. From numerous nostalgic summers at the N.C. coast with my family growing up to spending tons of time in Wilmington visiting family and friends, I love our state's coastal region! In addition to penning articles for Carolina Marketing Company, I work as an editorial assistant with Raleigh Magazine, teach fitness classes and work with a nonprofit ministry. When I'm not working, you can find me out for a run, grabbing coffee with a friend or seeking out my next travel or outdoor adventure. In short, I love writing, I love North Carolina and I love living life to the fullest!