“Eleven years ago all I had was an apartment, and I qualified for an SBA loan. Now I have two stores, and I can’t get a loan for the third.”
— Smoothie King owner Neil Bhakta, who is opening his third store Tuesday at Douglas and Rock without the help of a bank loan even though he could put 35 percent down
WICHITA — A third Smoothie King is opening in Wichita, which will make the second on the east side.
Neil Bhakta and his wife, Gillian Gorges, and a third partner, Shetal Bhakta (who is not related), are opening a 1,700-square-foot store at the center on the northeast corner of Douglas and Rock Road.
Unlike the Smoothie Kings at 3236 N. Rock Road and 8000 W. Central, this one won’t have a drive-through.
“On Rock, it’s so hard to find,” Neil Bhakta says.
He wanted that corridor, though.
“I like location over a drive-through in an off location.”