Tropical Smoothie Cafe opens new format

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is seeing double.

The quick-serve restaurant brand has opened its first-ever double drive-thru location, in Oklahoma City. The site features two drive-thru lanes, one standard and the other designated for online, third party and curbside ordering pick-up.

With just a few interior dining tables, the small building footprint allows Tropical Smoothie Cafe to serve customers how they want to be served, with ample space for multiple cars and quick, convenient pick-up, the company said. The new location also provides an experiential few moments for customers in the drive-thru lane, sending them on a quick escape by paying homage to the brand’s “Born on a Beach^” history.

In July, the company released what it described as “record” mid-year numbers, signing 139 franchise agreements in prime markets across the U.S., including Chicago, Philadelphia, and Salt Lake City. Tropical Smoothie Cafe also expanded into the airport space this year, opening a location at the newly expanded Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, in partnership with airport concessionaire Paradies Lagardère.

The new Oklahoma City outpost is franchisee Rohit Patel’s 14 cafe.

“I am so honored to be the first franchisee to launch a double drive-thru for Tropical Smoothie Cafe, signifying growth for the brand’s tech-driven operations,” said Patel, who was part of the design team that developed the plans for the brand’s double drive-thru model. “Not only is it a fantastic opportunity to meet the demand for digital ordering, the new model also offers more convenience and a unique guest experience.”

Aside from owning and operating locations throughout the Oklahoma and Kansas City markets managed by Hero Hospitality, Patel also sits on the brand-wide construction committee.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe has more than 1,150 locations nationwide.