FS_121318

20 | December 13, 2018 | The frankfort station dining out
frankfortstation.com
The Dish
Tropical Smoothie Cafe branching out to south suburbs
Tinley Park couple
opens spot in
hometown
Cody Mroczka
Contributing Editor
Phil Knippen, of Tinley Park, owns all three south suburban
Tropical Smoothie Cafes and also serves as the Chicago
area developer for the franchise.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
• 7101 W. 183rd St. in Tinley Park
• 1872 E. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox
• 16105 Farrell Road in Lockport
Hours
• 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday
• 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
For more information ...
Phone: (708) 468-8456 for Tinley Park, (815) 717-
8095 for New Lenox, (815) 524-4647 for Lockport
Web: www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com
More than three decades
ago, Phil and Theresa Knippen
were merely co-workers
at a Brown’s Chicken fast
food restaurant on the South
Side of Chicago.
“I was young, and it was
fun,” Theresa said, “[Phil]
was into the food business.”
Now, the married couple
of the last 31 years have
three Tropical Smoothie Cafes
spread across the south
suburbs, with plans to add
more. The Knippens’ first
fast-casual eatery — which
specializes in healthy meal
and snack options in the
form of smoothies, sandwiches,
wraps and bowls —
opened in New Lenox back
in 2012. Another location
was opened in Lockport in
March, followed by the most
recent opening in Tinley
Park in October.
“Eight years ago, [Theresa]
and I went to a franchise
show,” Phil recalled. “We
tried their products — their
smoothies and their food. We
really fell in love, and then I
learned the area was available
to develop. That’s what
interested me the most.”
Around the time the couple
got married, they also
settled in Tinley Park, where
they would raise three children.
Phil owned multiple
Brown’s Chicken franchises
as well as a plumbing business
before selling those
to concentrate on Tropical
Smoothie. The investment
paid off, as Phil was named
the area developer for the
south suburban Chicago
area, making him responsible
for planning and ensuring
future site developments
and operations.
“It’s kind of like a master
franchise,” Phil said. “So
people that are interested
in purchasing a Tropical
Smoothie Cafe, I would assist
them in finding sites;
I would assist them in the
construction process; I
would give them training at
my store, and then continue
to inspect their stores on a
monthly or quarterly basis.”
Where Phil concentrates
on the big-picture items, Theresa
is more detail-orientated
and makes sure the three
locations are all running
smoothly and efficiently.
Though she was not involved
in Phil’s other franchises,
Theresa is now fully invested
as a co-owner and manager.
The chicken caprese pressed sandwich ($7.49) features grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella
and tomato, with a pesto and balsamic glaze, served with a side of kale and apple slaw.
Photos by Cody Mrozcka/22nd Century Media
“When we opened our
first one in New Lenox,
people were asking for it in
other areas,” Theresa said.
“Then, it was Lockport, and
we were hearing the same
thing in Tinley Park. Once
they come in and they try it,
they’re hooked.”
Phil said he believes in the
franchise system, because
“you don’t have to reinvent
the wheel.” When the Knippens
first started, there were
260 Tropical Smoothie locations
in the country. It has
since grown to more than
700, and the Knippens think
the Chicago area is “wide
open” for more expansion. A
part of the challenge is overcoming
the idea that a place
with smoothie in its name
has more to offer than just
blended drinks.
“We don’t have fryers,”
Phil said. “It’s an easier
operation. It’s cleaner, and
we’re using real fruit, bananas,
strawberries, mangos,
fresh spinach and kale.
There’s over a dozen supplements
you can put into it,
and three different kids of
whey protein. We’re talking
22-26 grams of protein
in one drink. It’s a healthier
concept. ‘Eat better, feel
better’ is kind of our main
theme.”
Some local favorites in
the south suburbs include
the Island Green superfood
smoothie ($5.49 for 24
ounces) — made with spinach,
kale, mango, pineapple
and banana — as well as the
Bahama Mama ($5.29, 24
ounces) classic smoothie, a
mix of strawberries, pineapples,
white chocolate and coconut.
Available now are two
holiday specialty smoothies,
known as Very Berry Cranberry
and Cranberry Truffle.
Theresa points to the Supergreen
chicken Caesar
wrap or Buffalo chicken
wrap, both $6.99 and also
available in bowls, as two
common orders. But she
encourages patrons try the
Cuban pressed sandwich
($7.49) or the chipotle
chicken club ($5.49) if they
like a little spice. The locations
also offer catering for
businesses or family parties.
“Spicy or regular, whatever
your taste, the food is
phenomenal,” Theresa said.
“The flatbreads with chipotle
mayo are so tasty. The
Island Green [has] five servings
of fruits and vegetables,
but you would never know.
It’s something different. It’s
a healthier, better option.”