The newest Tropical Smoothie Cafe location in Cape Coral, at 333 S.W. 10th Place, is now the third in the city owned by father-and-son Ray and Andrew Howell. It is the 1,600th location for the franchise nationwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
CONTRIBUTED <\/p>\n
A local favorite that offers up healthy drinks and eats recently opened a new location in Cape Coral, while also marking a milestone for the franchise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The newest Tropical Smoothie Cafe location in Cape Coral, at 333 S.W. 10th Place, is now the third in the city owned by father-and-son Ray and Andrew Howell. It is the 1,600th location nationwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to have our store be this milestone number,\u201d Andrew said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ray said since being franchisees dating back to 2013, they\u2019ve been part of a few different milestone numbers for the cafe. They opened the 300th store and the first drive-thru for the chain, and also own the 100th location, which they acquired after it opened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really did try and step it up because we realize this is something special,\u201d Ray said. \u201cWe\u2019re definitely brand ambassadors.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur customer base in Lee County is very excited about Tropical Smoothie. We have one of the strongest markets in the chain here. Our goal is to open (more stores locally). Our community really has embraced us, which I think has a lot to do with our community involvement.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Howells now own 16 total Tropical Smoothie Cafes throughout the state including 10 in Lee County and six in Orlando.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here in Lee County, Tropical Smoothie Cafe and the Howells have been long-time sponsors of the Tommy Bohanon Football Camp, and create many job opportunities for residents and youth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Howells also credit District Manager Don MacDonald as being a \u201cphenomenal\u201d member of the team, along with store managers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost every high school, middle school, elementary school throughout the county we work with,\u201d Andrew said. \u201cAll of the spring training baseball teams that come down here. We\u2019re just really involved in the community, and it goes a long way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tropical Smoothie Cafe and the Howells were also heavily involved in Cape Coral\u2019s Red, White & BOOM! Fourth of July celebration, and even hosted beach cleanup events following recent hurricanes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a decent-sized brand, but at the heart of it, it\u2019s all local franchisees that own a handful of stores,\u201d Andrew said. \u201cWe\u2019re here living in the area and seeing our customers when we go to say Publix. While we\u2019re a larger brand, it\u2019s nice for people to realize we\u2019re right down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ray, who lives in Fort Myers, said opening stores locally is by design.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn other markets we maybe didn\u2019t do as well because we weren\u2019t involved in the community,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I go into a store wearing my Topical Smoothie Cafe shirt, people will say how much they love our product, and I always ask what is their favorite. It\u2019s such a positive experience, which is awesome. I know our culture is very strong. We are a lot of kids\u2019 first job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caring for their employees is something the Howells believe really sets them apart. Ray said they like to treat their employees as if they\u2019re going to be famous someday, so they can have Tropical Smoothie Cafe as a first job experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOur managers, our role is more of a mentorship,\u201d Ray said. \u201cWe mentor these kids on the basics, and we have a great product, which obviously has a lot to do with it. We always laugh and ask the team, \u2018Did you make it with love?\u2019 You can taste the difference. If people take pride in what they do, they just do a better job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tropical Smoothie Cafe offers healthy, tasty products, from smoothies to bowls to food and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can have flavor without sacrificing health,\u201d Andrew said. \u201cWe\u2019re not to the point where it can taste like chalk \u2014 we balance on that flavorful-healthy line. Our bowls are popular and really, really good. People love them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrew said the most rewarding part of being franchisees ties back into their employees.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI like seeing the development of our people,\u201d he said. \u201cSometimes you see people start out and grow into employees running $2 million cafes. You get to watch them grow as a leader. Other times we see young men and women work for a few years before going off to college and reach their goals and become, say, an architect. Our team all grows together, and it\u2019s nice to see that and the impact we have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ray said the opportunity is there to grow if people put in the work to do so, using the example of a now husband-and-wife team that started off as entry-level employees and now run a store that generates millions, and is a top-15 store in the entire franchise. They are also always willing to hear from their employees on ways to be more efficient and improve.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re willing to work with and develop employees for success, and we see the potential in people,\u201d Ray said. \u201cWe have an employee running one of our stores that couldn\u2019t get a promotion at her previous job, and now that store is having the highest sales in its history. This is what keeps Andrew and I motivated and wanting to grow. I\u2019m not money-motivated, I\u2019m goal-oriented. I find it really rewarding to give people a chance and to see them excel.\u201d<\/p>\n
The manager of the new Cape Coral store had to leave the company previously, as her spouse was dealing with some health issues. The Howells welcomed her back with open arms to now run the new location.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe kept a spot for her, and it all aligned,\u201d Ray said. \u201cWe put our people first and community first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Being a father\/son ownership, Ray said the growth he and his son have made together, and how their roles have changed and developed, has been rewarding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ray said he\u2019s gone from running the company, to now Andrew being in the driver\u2019s seat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve done a lot of evolving, which as a parent, I think is great,\u201d Ray said. \u201cYour goal is to see your (child) excel and exceed you, and I think Andrew is.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all about character and integrity, and that\u2019s what I taught Andrew. That\u2019s what he does, and it shows in all of the volunteering he does, the boards that he\u2019s on. He\u2019s a better leader and is better at critical thinking that has led to our growth and success. We\u2019re really a team. We talk about decisions together, and even involve our people. We do what\u2019s right, first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrew said over the years and the growth, there\u2019s been a synergy between he and his father that helps them work well together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tropical Smoothie Cafe\u2019s new Cape Coral location is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For more information, visit\u00a0www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com\u00a0and search via the \u201cfind a cafe\u201d tab.<\/p>\n