Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to open 10 stores in Hawaii in the next four to five years, adding to the spread of the more than 275-unit chain across the U.S.
There were two Tropical Smoothie Cafes in Hawaii, but the Honolulu store closed in October “due to lack of business,” said Teddy Wells, the restaurant industry veteran and sometime “Lost” actor (he played Ivan, a member of “the Others”) who opened it in 2007.
Wells had leased space on the ground floor of Hawaiki Tower on Piikoi Street that also houses KHON-TV, but is now scouting locations as well as “franchisees and/or investors that want to help with the expansion,” he said.
Nevada businessman Tom Poblano bought the Kona store, opened in 2006, and has joined the group of Hawaii-area developers planning to expand the brand across the islands. His niece Kellie Wojnowski has been running the Kona store for about a year, and he and his wife are planning to move to Hawaii in the next month or so.
