Tropical Smoothie Cafe is popping up all over Texas, and now there are plans to open a seventh location in San Antonio. According to a recently filed state permit, the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe will open its doors at 12107 Culebra Rd., Suite 108, in early 2026.
Grant Watkins is the franchisee behind this Tropical Smoothie Cafe opening. The permit details that construction on the new healthy drink hub will start in December of this year and is slated to be completed by mid-March next year. Watkins confirmed with What Now San Antonio that the plan is to open the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe in April 2026.
“Hoping to bring something a little bit different than what we’re used to. We want people to eat better and feel better. We’re all about making sure that people can eat better things,” Watkins said.
This will be the third Tropical Smoothie Cafe opening for Watkins, who bought into the franchise in 2017, opening a location in San Angelo. He then opened and sold a location in Abilene before recently opening another Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Brownwood.
“We kind of bought into the motto: eat better, feel better,” Watkins said.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe began as a single smoothie stand in 1993 on a beach in Destin, Florida. The brand was founded by Eric and Delora Jenrich to offer a healthier fast-food alternative. There are now more than 1400 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations nationwide.
Watkins shared that he aspires to bring this healthy living drink and food option to the community to keep that motto going. But that’s not all. Watkins would like to use the juice eatery as a platform to help others in his community. He shared that in his other locations, he works hard to give back as much as he can.
“We get involved with the local community, everything from the Boys and Girls Club to helping out the local universities,” Watkinds said.
Though Watkins was born and raised in Odessa, he recently moved to Kerrville, where his wife’s family has roots. The hope is to work with the University of Texas at San Antonio, where his brother-in-law went to school and played baseball, to give back in some capacity. Watkins shared he’d like to do the same with Taft High School.
“My brother-in-law has such fond memories from going to school there,” Watkins said.
Beyond bringing a plethora of deliciously healthy smoothie drinks that the brand offers, Watkins will be making noise in more ways than one. Keep your ears perked for details on the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s grand opening.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe is expected to open at 12107 Culebra Rd., Suite 108, in April 2026.
