Smoothie Shop In Brick A New Challenge For Business-Loving Entrepreneur

BRICK, NJ — Kent Speedy has spent many years running businesses.

He's done commercial real estate and warehousing, and he has operated a reverse logistics business, which involves handling product returns by customers.

His newest business venture is a complete change of pace. Speedy owns Tropical Smoothie Café, which is opening in the Town Hall Shoppes plaza on Cedar Bridge Avenue near Carrabba's Italian Grill and the UPS Store.

Speedy, who lives in Toms River, also owns the Tropical Smoothie Café location in the Michael's plaza on Hooper Avenue. That one opened in January 2024.

"I just love running businesses," he said. "It’s what gets me going."

He said he decided to get involved as a restaurant franchisee because while he loves to run businesses, he didn't want to start something from scratch.

"The franchise model for me is fantastic because I’m good at executing the business plan, while they deal with the creatives," Speedy said. With Tropical Smoothie Café, the franchising made for a short learning curve on running a restaurant, he said. "They guide you along the way."

He said he chose the brand because he sees it as a strong brand with a lot of growth. Tropical Smoothie Café has locations in 44 states plus the District of Columbia, with 27 in New Jersey.

Speedy anticpates having 15 to 20 employees at the Brick store, serving a menu that isn't solely focused on drinks. The menu has protein, fruit and yogurt bowls and wraps and flatbreads.

It also offers more than 20 smoothie flavors, from Island Green Detox for veggie lovers to Acai Berry Boost to Paradise Point and Jetty Punch for fruit lovers, and options for kids. There's also the Sunshine Smoothie, where every purchase includes a donation to No Kid Hungry, a nonprofit working to make sure children in poverty are fed.

There also are supplements customers can purchase to be added to their smoothies, including probiotic, Vitamin C immune booster and a fat burning, according to the menu.

Speedy said he is looking to ensure that what his restaurants deliver to customers is the same quality they get in other Tropical Smoothie Cafés as well as to repeat customers at his two sites.

"I do a lot of hands-on training," Speedy said. "I’m not a rule-bender. With a lot of this stuff we should be following what they want us to do," because that's what delivers the consistency, he said. He also wants to see how they can serve customers faster while still providing quality food.

"I’m a number cruncher. I’m very technical," he said.

While the restaurant had its soft opening on Monday, the more formal opening is expected on Sept. 15, Speedy said. The grand opening is set for Friday, Sept. 19, he said.

All of that week the store will be participating in an event called, Fanfest, where customers who are members of the Tropical Smoothie Café Loyalty app can get a free smoothie with food purchase, Speedy said.

In addition to the Brick location, Speedy said he has a third location in the works in Lacey. Speedy shared the coupon below for the Brick store.