---
title: "Fast Casual: Tropical Smoothie Cafe Expands into Indiana with 8-store agreement"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/9eb727de-6931-4731-bc9d-9a6211422422
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/fast-casual-tropical-smoothie-cafe-expands-into-indiana-with-8-store-agreement-2706441
category: "Beverage & juice"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Beverage & juice"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2018-05-03T14:09:26.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:09:59.267Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/4ff39ef6a2ea6f4e80a7ce36bfd385074033.jpg
---

# Fast Casual: Tropical Smoothie Cafe Expands into Indiana with 8-store agreement

**TL;DR:** Tropical Smoothie Cafe has signed an agreement to expand into Indiana with the help of franchisees David and Ruth Buko and James Volpert, opening 8 new locations. The brand is on track to have another stellar year, according to CEO Mike Rotondo.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2018-05-03. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/fast-casual-tropical-smoothie-cafe-expands-into-indiana-with-8-store-agreement-2706441).*

## Story

Indiana will soon be home to an additional eight Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations.

According to a recent article in Fast Casual, the brand has signed an agreement to expand with the help of franchisees David and Ruth Buko and James Volpert.

The Bukos are no strangers to Tropical Smoothie Cafe. They currently own and operate six locations in Lansing and Saginaw. The agreement will be a new venture for first-time franchisee Volpert, who will lead day-to-day operations for the new cafes. The first two locations are expected to open next year.

"With existing franchisees like the Bukos expanding their relationship with us, and new franchisees like James Volpert coming onboard, we're on track to have another stellar year," said CEO Mike Rotondo.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- unit expansion (topic)
- franchise agreement (topic)
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe (company)
- indiana (location)
- new locations (topic)
- Mike Rotondo (person)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/fast-casual-tropical-smoothie-cafe-expands-into-indiana-with-8-store-agreement-2706441). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/9eb727de-6931-4731-bc9d-9a6211422422).