Open for Business: Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Tropical Smoothie Cafe
New franchise operators Matt and Leah Mawdsley opened Springfield’s second Tropical Smoothie Cafe on May 8 at 3645 E. Sunshine St. in Eastgate Plaza. The husband-and-wife team signed a five-year lease on the 1,625-square-foot store with Gardner Properties of Springfield LLC, Matt Mawdsley said. Lease and startup costs were not disclosed. Franchise fees are $25,000, according to Tropical Smoothie’s website. Mawdsley said the store features a new Tropical Smoothie’s floor plan and decor. The store employs 18 and seats 38, and menu items are in the $4-$7 range, he said. Hours: 7 a.m.–9 p.m. daily. Phone: (417) 719-4486. Web: TropicalSmoothie.com

Jyoti Nepal
Craig and Jennifer Alsup founded Jyoti Nepal on Feb. 8 out of their Republic home. Craig Alsup said jyoti is the Nepalese word for light, which represents the nonprofit mission organization’s humanitarian efforts centered in the city of Pokhara. Donors sponsor educational efforts for $15 per month per student or $75 per month to cover expenses for one of 19 children at the mission’s 2,000-square-foot orphanage. Alsup said Jyoti Nepal has a goal of raising $50,000 to establish a new 6,000-square-foot facility, and to date the group has raised $6,000 for relief efforts, following the April 25 earthquake. Four local volunteers serve on its board of directors. Phone: (601) 622-7475. Web: JyotiNepal.org

KVLA LLC
Kenny and Lois Schulte formed KVLA LLC on Feb. 1 to purchase Wiser Co. LLC and its two automotive repair shops, Seeburg Muffler and Brake and A-1 Custom Muffler and Brake. Lois Schulte, who started as a receptionist with Wiser Co. in 1994 and most recently worked as general manager, said KVLA signed 10-year leases on the auto shops with Wiser Properties LLC. Terms of the deals with Wiser co-founder Audrey Wiser and son David were not disclosed. Schulte said the company recently broke its April sales record by $44,000, posting over $328,000 across six full-service shops in Greene County and northwest Arkansas. Location hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Main office phone: (417) 887-8000 Web: SeeburgAutomotive.com and A-1CustomAutoRepair.com

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