Partnership with Experienced Multi-Unit Operator Aurify Kingstar Accelerates Brand Growth Across Key Northeast Markets

NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tropical Smoothie Cafe, one of the nation’s leading fast-casual restaurant brands, has announced a 40-unit franchise development deal across New York and Connecticut with franchisee Aurify Kingstar, expanding the brand’s presence in key Northeast markets.

The agreement marks a significant step in Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s next phase of strategic franchise growth. With more than 1,750 cafes and a robust development pipeline, the brand is on track to open its 1,800th location by the end of 2026. As part of its continued investment in franchise development, Tropical Smoothie Cafe recently appointed Joe Sieve as Chief Development & Growth Officer to lead the brand’s development strategy and growth initiatives. The deal will expand Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s presence across Albany, Westchester County, the Bronx, and Western Connecticut, with Aurify Kingstar planning to open its first location in early 2027.

“New York and Connecticut represent tremendous growth opportunities for Tropical Smoothie Cafe and reflect the potential ahead as we enter our next phase of growth,” said Max Wetzel, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC. “Aurify Kingstar brings the restaurant experience, infrastructure, and proven multi-unit development capabilities we look for in growth partners. Together, we can meaningfully expand our presence in the Northeast while continuing to deliver the guest experience and community connection that define our brand.”

Andy Stern, John Rigos, and Jeremy Tannenbaum spearhead Aurify Kingstar’s development efforts, bringing more than 25 years of experience building and operating restaurant concepts. Throughout their careers, the team has developed their own concepts and built a diverse franchise portfolio, gaining extensive expertise in restaurant operations, brand development, and multi-unit growth. 

“We’ve followed Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s growth and success for some time, and the strength of the brand and the experience it creates for guests stood out to us,” said Tannenbaum. “As operators, we’re passionate about restaurant concepts that bring people together and become part of the communities they serve. We see a tremendous opportunity to build Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s presence throughout the Northeast, create great experiences for our guests, and establish meaningful connections in each community we enter.”

As Tropical Smoothie Cafe advances its franchise growth strategy, the brand continues to see strong confidence from both new and existing franchisees while prioritizing experienced developers like Aurify Kingstar, who bring strong market knowledge, established infrastructure, and the ability to scale multi-unit operations. Aurify Kingstar identified Tropical Smoothie Cafe as a strong addition to its portfolio based on the brand’s established system, growing consumer demand, available development whitespace, and continued nationwide growth.
For more information about Tropical Smoothie Cafe and its menu offerings, visit TropicalSmoothieCafe.com.

About Tropical Smoothie Cafe^®
Born on a beach in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual restaurant brand built on a simple promise: better-for-you food and smoothies that taste as good as they make you feel. That commitment extends to making every day more vibrant in the communities it serves, and today, Tropical Smoothie Cafe has grown to nearly 1,800 locations across 44 states. The Atlanta-based brand has been recognized for its continued excellence, earning the No. 1 ranking in the Smoothie/Juice Category on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 for six consecutive years, being named one of USA TODAY’s 10Best Restaurants for Quick, Healthy Food, and appearing on Technomic’s Top 500 list of leading restaurant chains. For more information, visit https://www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com/.

About Aurify Kingstar
Aurify Kingstar (AKS) is a multi-brand restaurant investment and operating company with more than 25 years of experience building and operating restaurant concepts. Co-founded by John Rigos and Andy Stern, AKS has developed, operated, or acquired over 300 restaurants, including franchise brands like Five Guys, Wingstop, and Le Pain Quotidien, as well as proprietary brands like Happy Monkey by Jean-Georges, Melt Shop, and Little Beet. Headquartered in New York City with a footprint spanning the Northeast, AKS continues to grow a portfolio of best-in-class restaurant brands through disciplined, operator-led execution. For more information, visit aurifykingstar.com.

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SOURCE Tropical Smoothie Cafe