In September of last year, the longstanding Planet Smoothie franchise in Newnan shuttered, leaving a gap in the Newnan business scene for longtime customers, including Austin Plumley.
“[Planet Smoothie] had been here for quite a long time. I remember as a kid going to this Planet Smoothie and getting smoothies,” Plumely told What Now Atlanta. “Within the past year, they shut down. It was a bummer because it was a place that was always here and a nice place to go.”
Plumely had never envisioned himself as a Planet Smoothie owner. However, when the store shuttered last year, he wanted to bring it back to the community.
Now, Plumely is reviving the brand at 109 Newnan Crossing Bypass at Ashley Park. In an Instagram announcement in late January, he shared plans to start renovations on the space. Plumely is targeting a mid-April to early May opening.
Planet Smoothie offers a menu featuring smoothies — including caffeinated energy smoothies and protein smoothies — as well as acai bowls. The brand allows for customizations with add-in ingredients and supplements. Currently, the closest locations to Newnan include spots in Senoia and Peachtree City. Other Atlanta-area locations include Fairburn, Morrow, Atlanta and Decatur.
When the Newnan location opens, expect to see a lively atmosphere. Planned renovations include new paint and new fixtures to give the space a fresh look.
For Plumely, the differentiator for Planet Smoothie Newnan will be his emphasis on high-quality customer service.
“We want people to want to come here and want to see what’s going on. That’s the biggest thing we’re bringing to the table when we open back up,” Plumely said.
Plumely has no plans to add more stores to his portfolio at this time. Instead, he wants to focus on building the brand locally in Newnan, making Planet Smoothie a thriving, community-oriented spot where people want to be.
“My long-term goal is to establish the Planet Smoothie here in Newnan as a good place for people to get their smoothies with great customer service and good experience,” Plumely said. “I want to grow the spot we’re in now. Newnan is a thriving, growing city, so by having a good reputation with the business, I think the business here in Newnan will grow a lot more.”
