Vienna’s newest stop for smoothies celebrated its coronation yesterday.
Smoothie King is now open to customers at 258 Maple Ave East, where it replaced the furniture store Savvy Rest Natural Bedroom in the same block as Sweet Leaf Cafe.
For Shazia Zaidi, who owns the franchise with her husband, Ali Thada, Smoothie King’s opening has been a dream two decades in the making. She started working at the company as her first job after immigrating to the U.S. from Pakistan.
“I work for Smoothie King for 20 years, so this is our own franchise that I was always dreaming for,” Zaidi said. “…I really loved smoothies, and this is something you eat for purpose. It’s not like any junk food, which is not good for you. That’s why I love it.”
Started in New Orleans in 1973 and now based in Texas, Smoothie King sells coffee shakes, high-protein blends and other drinks designed to promote health and fitness.
Zaidi says the smoothies have continually evolved during her career, becoming healthier and expanding with more flavors. They use whole fruits and organic vegetables, while avoiding artifical ingredients and added sugar.
“They have vegan [smoothies], keto, a lot of different options which go with your lifestyle,” she said.
Zaidi told FFXnow that she’s excited to be able run her own business after working for “somebody else all these years.”
When the opportunity came to open their own franchise, Vienna was a natural choice to set up shop for the couple, who live about 10 minutes away in McLean.
“The town of Vienna is a diverse residential community known for its small-town fun, botanical gardens and nature, music, local dining, and rich history,” Syed Mehdi, another member of the franchise team, said by email. “Smoothie King is the perfect addition as a convenient, healthy meal option on the go for Vienna’s active residents.”
Smoothie King is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
The store allows contactless pickups and deliveries with online ordering available through its website and Smoothie King’s Healthy Rewards app.
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