The Smoothie King building in New Orleans is the headquarters and main office building for Smoothie King Franchises, Inc. Smoothie King is a popular smoothie and health food franchise that was founded in New Orleans in 1973. The company’s headquarters building is located at 400 North Peters Street in downtown New Orleans.
History of Smoothie King
Smoothie King was founded in 1973 by Steve Kuhnau and his business partner Kenneth Peters. They opened the first Smoothie King store in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The company steadily grew throughout the 1970s and 1980s, expanding across the Gulf Coast region. In 1989, Smoothie King moved its headquarters into the building at 400 North Peters Street in downtown New Orleans. This marked a major milestone as the company transitioned into a true franchise model.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Smoothie King experienced rapid growth under the leadership of CEO Wan Kim. The company expanded across the United States and even opened locations internationally. All the while, the headquarters remained in the North Peters building in New Orleans. Today, there are over 900 Smoothie King stores open across the world. But the building in downtown New Orleans remains the heart of Smoothie King operations.
Description of the Smoothie King Building
The Smoothie King building is a 5-story office tower located at 400 North Peters Street in downtown New Orleans. It has approximately 56,000 square feet of office space. The building was originally constructed in the late 1980s and underwent major renovations in 2012.
The building has a modern design with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, limestone cladding, and curved exterior walls. The front entrance facing North Peters Street is accented by a curved glass overhang/canopy. Inside, the lobby has terrazzo floors, exposed concrete pillars, and an open atrium that provides views of the upper floors.
Smoothie King headquarters occupies floors 2-5 of the building. The offices are designed with an open layout to encourage collaboration among employees. The decor features lots of wood, exposed ductwork, and neon signage that reflects Smoothie King’s brand image. There are conference rooms, huddle spaces, and a top floor event space with views of downtown New Orleans.
The ground floor of 400 North Peters Street contains a Smoothie King retail location for employees and local residents. This was the first Smoothie King store to open in New Orleans back in 1973. Even as the company grew, they kept the original store open at their headquarters.
Significance of the Headquarters
The Smoothie King headquarters building in New Orleans holds major significance for the company. It is home to the corporate staff that oversees Smoothie King’s 1000+ locations across the world. All major business functions – including Marketing, Franchise Support, Accounting, IT, and R&D – are managed out of the New Orleans office.
Having the headquarters in New Orleans also pays homage to Smoothie King’s local roots. The company prides itself on being a true New Orleans success story. Smoothie King often gives back to the local community through charity initiatives and partnerships focused on health and wellness.
The on-site test kitchen is another important element of the headquarters. Smoothie King’s chefs and nutritionists develop new smoothie recipes and innovations from this lab space. New products are thoroughly tested before being rolled out to franchise locations.
From a business perspective, the headquarters building serves as a central hub for Smoothie King Franchises, Inc. It houses the corporate leadership and provides strategic direction for the global enterprise. Even as the company has grown into a worldwide chain, the New Orleans HQ remains an important home base.
Interior Spaces
The interior of the Smoothie King headquarters building features a modern, industrial design aesthetic. Here are some key spaces located within the offices:
Lobby
The ground floor lobby has terrazzo floors, exposed concrete pillars, and a minimalist reception desk. There is an open atrium that looks up through the center of the building. A backlit Smoothie King logo sign hangs prominently behind the front desk.
Executive Offices
Smoothie King’s C-suite executives such as the CEO and CFO have private offices along the windows on the upper floors. These spaces have glass wall partitions and sliding doors for an open feel. The executive offices are decorated with stylish mid-century modern furniture.
Creative Studios
Open work areas for Smoothie King’s Marketing, Advertising, and Digital teams. These spaces have high ceilings, industrial lights, and walls adorned with branding material and inspiration boards.
Test Kitchen
A fully functional kitchen space where Smoothie King’s chefs create and test new smoothie recipes. It is fitted with commercial appliances and prep stations. There is also a small tasting area.
Innovation Lab
A dedicated lab for Smoothie King’s R&D team to develop new products and initiatives. The lab has stations to test smoothie ingredients, vitamins/supplements, new equipment technology, and more.
Training Rooms
Classroom-style spaces used to train corporate staff and franchise partners. The rooms have AV technology for presentations and webinars.
| Space | Description |
|---|---|
| Lobby | Minimalist decor, terrazzo floors, exposed concrete, open atrium |
| Executive Offices | Private offices for C-suite along windows, glass partitions |
| Creative Studios | Open work areas for marketing and creative teams |
| Test Kitchen | Fully functional kitchen for testing recipes |
| Innovation Lab | Product R&D lab space |
| Training Rooms | Classrooms for staff and franchisee training |
Artwork and Branding
As the headquarters for a major international brand, the Smoothie King office is filled with unique artwork and branding elements that reflect the company’s image. Here are some examples:
Neon Signage
Vintage-inspired neon signs in Smoothie King’s signature font and colors accent the walls in common areas. Text includes inspirational phrases like “Be Fruitful & Multi-Smoothie.”
Product Photography
Giant artistic photographs of Smoothie King smoothies and ingredients are mounted in the lobby and stairwells. They showcase the brand’s food photography.
Mural Wall
A huge mural depicting vibrant fruitscovers an entire wall near the event space. It energizes the office with bold colors.
Logo Features
The Smoothie King logo appears everywhere – on wall graphics, light fixtures, floor mats, and more. The prominent logos reinforce the brand identity.
Lifestyle Imagery
Photos of people exercising, playing sports, and living an active lifestyle are displayed in common areas. This reflects Smoothie King’s health-conscious brand values.
Local Nods
Artwork and murals around the office pay tribute to New Orleans culture through Mardi Gras motifs, streetscapes, and local imagery. This roots the brand in the community.
| Art Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Neon Signage | Vintage neon signs with inspirational phrases |
| Product Photography | Giant photos of smoothies and ingredients |
| Mural Wall | Fruit-focused wall mural |
| Logo Features | Prominent Smoothie King logos everywhere |
| Lifestyle Imagery | Photos of people exercising and playing sports |
| Local Nods | Artwork showing New Orleans culture and scenes |
Amenities and Employee Culture
Smoothie King aims to promote a fun, energizing work culture at the corporate headquarters. Employee amenities and activities include:
Outdoor balcony
An outdoor patio area overlooking downtown New Orleans. Employees can take breaks, eat lunch, or relax outside.
Recreation room
Game tables, shuffleboard, TVs, and lounge seating provide a recreational space for employees.
On-site cafe
A cafe serving Smoothie King smoothies, snacks, and meals. Employees enjoy discounted pricing.
Relaxation rooms
Quiet rooms with couches and calming decor for employees to recharge and de-stress.
Fitness center
An on-site gym offers cardio and strength training equipment for employee workouts.
Intramural sports
Corporate staff form teams and compete in sports like flag football, basketball, and softball.
Volunteer initiatives
Smoothie King leads local volunteer projects focused on health, wellness, and supporting New Orleans.
Company parties
Holiday parties, cookouts, and celebrations bring employees together for bonding.
Smoothie King truly emphasizes a fun, tight-knit culture at the New Orleans headquarters. The amenities and activities foster community among corporate staff.
| Amenity | Description |
|---|---|
| Outdoor balcony | Patio space with views of New Orleans |
| Recreation room | Game tables, lounge seating, TVs |
| On-site cafe | Cafe selling discounted Smoothie King products |
| Relaxation rooms | Quiet rooms for recharging |
| Fitness center | Gym with strength and cardio equipment |
| Intramural sports | Flag football, basketball, softball teams |
| Volunteer initiatives | Local volunteer projects |
| Company parties | Holiday parties, cookouts, celebrations |
Conclusion
In summary, the Smoothie King headquarters building located at 400 North Peters Street in downtown New Orleans serves an important role for the growing company. Purchased in 1989, this renovated 5-story office tower houses all of Smoothie King’s major corporate functions. It’s also home to the brand’s test kitchens and innovation labs.
With an open, modern layout and industrial design elements, the workspace facilitates collaboration. The office decor reinforces Smoothie King’s vibrant brand image through neon signage, food photography, and prominent logos. Employee amenities like a recreation room, balcony, and on-site cafe promote a fun, energizing culture.
While Smoothie King has expanded to over 1000 locations globally, the New Orleans HQ remains central to operations. The headquarters honors Smoothie King’s local roots in Louisiana and provides strategic leadership for the franchise model. For over 30 years, the building at 400 North Peters Street has been integral to Smoothie King’s worldwide success.
