Construction of a new Smoothie King location is currently underway at 5601 Bullard Ave., in New Orleans East. When it opens, it will have a full menu and primarily cater to drive-thru and walk-up customers.
Franchisee Wardell Bourgeois recently told What Now New Orleans that he’s successfully been doing business in this part of the city for more than two decades, and he sees the area as a place full of business opportunities.
“The East gets a bad rap for whatever reason, always has,” he said. “Some of the things you hear now, I heard many years ago. New Orleans East is on the decline. There’s crime and all of that. When I opened my business Bourgeois Associates Mortgage, 26 years ago, people said, ‘Why are you doing that in New Orleans East?’ and yet that area has been very good for us.”
Bourgeois noted that the new Smoothie King location will bring tasty, healthy options to the area, along with high-quality service.
“If you have a good product and good service, you’re going to do well, just like any other part of the city,” he said. “That’s my experience.”
The franchisee indicated that he is in talks to develop more Smoothie King locations in the area.
“We’ve been in talks about Lincoln Beach, and we’ve had conversations with the principals in Bayou Phoenix,” Bourgeois said. “New Orleans East is our territory. So, we’re definitely open to, you know, maybe a non-traditional kiosk location or something like that.”
