A Tropical Smoothie Cafe is coming to Carolina Beach Road, possibly later this year, while a new Chipotle location is set to open nearby on Wednesday.

The new location of the Tropical Smoothie franchise is going into 1,200 square feet of leased space at 5621 Carolina Beach Road, in front of the site where a new Target is under construction.

"The area has been blowing up for years now, but there’s so many families, so much housing, so many businesses around the area, and I think that they are underserved," said Brandon Korman, owner of five Tropical Smoothie locations in the region. "The same people that always connect with our brand are living there (in the Myrtle Grove/Monkey Junction area) and are doing business there."

Korman opened his first Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 2804 S. College Road in Long Leaf Mall about 11 years ago. In addition to smoothies, the cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner items, including wraps, sandwiches and salads. Korman said the restaurant started serving bowls, including acai bowls, last year.

Korman's other locations are in Porters Neck, Leland and, most recently, Shallotte, which opened a little over two years ago, Korman said.

Depending on the season, his cafes employ between 60 and 90, he said, and he expects that number will be pushed well over 100 with the new location.

Korman said he hopes to open the 5621 Carolina Beach Road cafe by the end of the year.

Another national chain is coming near the upcoming Target.

In an announcement Monday, Chipotle Mexican Grill officials said its new Wilmington-area location is scheduled to open Wednesday morning. The restaurant, at 5505 Carolina Beach Road, will have a drive-thru pick-up lane. According to a news release, Chipotle will be open every day from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m.

As for the new Target location, officials said in January 2024 that once construction started, the store would likely take two years to complete.