Starbucks, Watch Out

Here are some photos of one of the new Maui Wowi stores opening around the country. This one’s in Poplar Bluff, MO.

So far this year, Maui Wowi stores have opened in Hazelwood, MO; Watertown, SD; Dulles Airport, VA; Charlotte, NC; Hernet, CA; Glendale, CA; San Jose, CA; Houston; St. Charles, IL; Surprise, AZ; Anaheim, CA; Bethany Beach, DE; Deerfield Beach, FL; Montrose, CO; Corrolla, NC; Henderson, NV; Katy, TX; and El Paso, TX. Stores are being built in Waipahu, HI; Redwood City, CA; Fort Worth, TX; Anaheim, CA; Chicago, IL (2); Mesquite, TX; San Diego, CA, Wimberly, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Corona, CA; Stockton, CA; Temecula, CA; San Jose, CA; Claremont, CA; San Leandro, CA; Encino, CA; and Philadelphia. And there are bunch more getting ready to start construction or in other stages.

When I joined Maui Wowi as a franchise owner four years ago, there were no stores, there was no coffee line, but there was a lot of entrepreneurial spirit among the franchise base and the company’s management. It’s really going into overdrive these days. The stores have more personality than any other franchise I know of. They’re not just a place for coffee or a smoothie. They are really warm, friendly places. Consumers are liking what they are seeing and tasting. It’s very cool to be part of a franchise system where people pursue their visions, take risks and commit to making their dreams happen.

112 Degrees in the Shade

The temperature reading on my truck’s thermometer hit 112 degrees in Manhattan yesterday. It was unreal. Al Gore, you were right! At least the folks at The Princeton Review’s uptown office were chillin’ with Maui Wowi smoothies. We were invited in to do our blending magic for 200 or so of their staff, following a visit two days earlier to their downtown office. As you can see, these folks stayed cool despite the heat!

We’re Havin’ a Heat Wave!

It It was 100 degrees plus yesterday and in anticipation of the heat wave, the Princeton Review contacted Maui Wowi Hawaiian Smoothies to come in to its offices on Varick Street and the upper west side to cool down the staff.