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WICKER PARK — A popular smoothie chain is now open on Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 1509 N. Milwaukee Ave., is the brand’s fourth location in Chicago, serving smoothies and food like wraps, quesadillas and flatbreads.
The location unofficially opened Monday and is holding its grand opening this weekend.
“We feel like there is really no option for fresh smoothies in the neighborhood,” said Devang Kothari, who co-owns the Wicker Park franchise with his wife Chaitali.
“There are people who do smoothies as sort of side thing, but no one who really focuses on it. We just felt like there was a need for cafe that’s not necessarily a coffee shop…we just didn’t see anything similar in the marketplace,” he said.
The Wicker Park storefront is Kothari’s first Tropical Smoothie Cafe location, but he said he plans to expand throughout the city over the next few years, potentially eyeing Old Town, Streeterville and River North.
“It’s going to grow very rapidly,” Kothari said.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe is open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sundays.
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