The franchise development agreement will cover New York and western Connecticut, with the first café expected to open in early 2027.
Tropical Smoothie Café has signed a 40-unit franchise development agreement with Aurify Kingstar to expand across New York and Connecticut, strengthening the US fast-casual brand’s presence in the Northeast. Announced on October 19, 2026, the deal targets Albany, Westchester County and the Bronx in New York, alongside western Connecticut, with the first location expected to open in early 2027.
The agreement brings Tropical Smoothie Café together with an experienced multi-unit restaurant operator as the brand accelerates its nationwide expansion. The partnership will establish a development pipeline across several markets, with Aurify Kingstar responsible for rolling out the 40 cafés under the agreement.
“New York and Connecticut represent tremendous growth opportunities for Tropical Smoothie Café and reflect the potential ahead as we enter our next phase of growth,” said Max Wetzel, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Café. He highlighted Aurify Kingstar’s restaurant operating experience and development capabilities as important assets for building the brand’s presence in these markets.
Aurify Kingstar operates as a holding company under New York-based Aurify Brands and is led by Andy Stern, John Rigos and Jeremy Tannenbaum. The leadership team brings more than 25 years of experience in restaurant development and operations. Aurify’s wider portfolio includes franchise brands such as Five Guys and Wingstop, alongside concepts including Melt Shop, Little Beet and Happy Monkey by Jean-Georges. The Tropical Smoothie Café agreement adds another multi-unit development opportunity to its restaurant portfolio.
Founded in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Café has built its business around smoothies, sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads and bowls. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the brand operates more than 1,750 cafés across 44 states and has set its sights on reaching 1,800 locations by the end of 2026. Its predominantly franchised operating model makes development agreements with experienced operators a central part of its growth strategy.
The company has also been expanding its development capabilities and exploring additional channels, including non-traditional locations such as airports and military bases. In 2024, private-equity firm Blackstone acquired Tropical Smoothie Café in a transaction valued at approximately $2 billion, providing a new ownership platform for the brand’s next stage of growth.
The 40-unit agreement with Aurify Kingstar gives Tropical Smoothie Café a route into additional Northeast markets while adding a substantial development commitment to its franchise pipeline. The first opening, planned for early 2027, will mark the start of the rollout across New York and Connecticut.
