A father-son team just launched their third Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Cape Coral, located at 333 S.W. 10th Place. The store is the chain’s 1,600th location in the U.S.

“It’s exciting to have our store be this milestone number,” Andrew Howell said per Cape Coral Breeze.

Since 2013, Ray and Andrew Howell have built up their business to 16 stores across Florida. Ten shops serve Lee County customers, while six more are located in Orlando. They broke ground with the brand’s first drive-thru and hit another mark with store number 300.

“We really did try and step it up because we realize this is something special,” Ray Howell said. “We’re definitely brand ambassadors.”

Strong local ties fuel their growth. The shops support the Tommy Bohanon Football Camp and work with nearby schools. When storms hit, they pitched in with beach cleanup. They supported Cape Coral’s Red, White & BOOM! event.

“Almost every high school, middle school, elementary school throughout the county we work with,” Andrew Howell said. “All of the spring training baseball teams that come down here. We’re just really involved in the community, and it goes a long way.”

Staff growth stays at the heart of their mission. Entry-level workers now run million-dollar stores. 

“We’re willing to work with and develop employees for success, and we see the potential in people,” Ray Howell said. “I’m not money-motivated, I’m goal-oriented. I find it really rewarding to give people a chance and to see them excel.”

The business shifted as time passed. Ray stepped back, letting his son take charge. “We’ve done a lot of growing, which as a parent, I think is great,” he said.

The new location serves customers Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Weekend hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.