Tropical Smoothie Cafe Breathes New Life into Logan Square Storefront

A new Tropical Smoothie Cafe has opened at 2620 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Logan Square, marking the end of a seven-year vacancy left by the departure of Uncharted Books in 2019. The cafe is owned by franchisees Cesar Coronado and Marion Sullivan, who also operate 11 other locations in the Chicago area, including in neighborhoods like Wicker Park and Streeterville.

The opening of the cafe comes at a time of significant development in Logan Square, with recent investments in green spaces and the redevelopment of Grace’s Furniture building. Coronado expressed enthusiasm about the location, stating, "We are taking a bet on Logan." The cafe aims to capitalize on the neighborhood's growth and aims to integrate with the local community by hiring locally and planning collaborations with nearby businesses.

Renovations of the cafe space took about seven months, involving extensive demolition and cleanup to transform it into a beach-themed venue. The cafe features ordering kiosks, catering to transit riders from the nearby Blue Line station. The menu includes smoothies, acai bowls, sandwiches, and flatbreads.

In celebration of its opening, the cafe distributed 10,000 free smoothies in the area and offered a 50% discount on all orders for the official opening weekend. Local businesses were invited to request complimentary smoothie deliveries for their teams.

Despite the initial plan to open in April, the franchisee is pleased with the outcome. The cafe operates from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.