Smoothie King is nearly ready to open its first Jefferson City store.
The health-conscious, quick-serve restaurant began construction at 2208 Missouri Blvd. in April. The drive-thru restaurant, located in a new strip mall-type building at the former location of Yen Ching, is set to open Nov. 4.
"We're excited to be in Jeff City," said franchise co-owner Jackie Floyd. "We already feel like there's a lot of excitement, and we feel like we can offer something different."
The Mid-Missouri Smoothie King franchise began with a location in Columbia. Jefferson City is the franchise's second restaurant, and a third is slated to open in Kirksville next spring.
Smoothie King specializes in healthy smoothies designed to fit customers' individual lifestyle needs - whether that's a protein-packed pre- or post-workout boost, a slim blend for the calorie-conscious, or a satisfying meal replacement smoothie.
"We offer over 60 different meal-replacement smoothies, and we have a lot of different kinds of protein powder," Floyd said, noting options are available to serve vegetarian and vegan needs. The customizable "smoothies with a purpose," as the brand's tagline claims, typically are made with ingredients like Chobani Greek yogurt, fruits, vegetables and nuts.
"Jackie and her team are very professional, and they get the brand," said Stephen Foley, Smoothie King franchise development manager. "They believe in the brand and really live the healthy and active lifestyle. They're very focused on customer service."
Customer service is key at Smoothie King, Foley said, noting employees are prepared to help customers design the smoothie that fits their needs.
Floyd is particularly excited to open the restaurant in early fall, just days before Smoothie King introduces its holiday smoothies - such as dark chocolate peppermint and dark chocolate cherry, made with Ghirardelli cocoa. "They are a meal replacement, but yet they're low-calorie; so you'll feel like, 'I'm eating a dessert, but I don't feel guilty about it.'"
The Jefferson City Smoothie King will employ about 25 people, Floyd said.
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