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Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe registers Charlotte location with county health department

Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe registers Charlotte location with county health department

Money Moves Charlotte, NC local

Michigan-based smoothie chain files health permit for 1226 Central Ave. as it expands nationwide

October 8th, 2026: Charlotte Bora Bora posts food establishment record

Overview

Updated Oct 17

Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe filed a food establishment record with Mecklenburg County Public Health on October 8, 2026, for its Charlotte shop at 1226 Central Ave. The location lists hours on the chain's site and appears on DoorDash, so the permit is routine registration at a running smoothie bar.

The record is one point in a larger push. Founded in Dearborn, Michigan, in 2023, the chain reported 34 locations across 15 states in September 2026, with shops near Washington, D.C., and Walt Disney World, plus an Atlanta lease signed in March. Growth has also brought friction: a trademark dispute over the name and a Harlem shop shut over health violations this past summer.

Why it matters

The permit shows a growing smoothie franchise now operates in Charlotte, adding to the city's crowded quick-service drink market.

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Key Indicators

34
Bora Bora locations across its footprint
Reported across 15 states in September 2026.
15
States with a Bora Bora location
Per September 2026 reporting and the chain's site.
1
Charlotte food establishment record
Filed with Mecklenburg County Public Health on October 8, 2026.

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Organizations Involved

Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe
Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe
Franchise restaurant chain
Operating franchise with 34 locations across 15 states per September 2026 reporting; Charlotte record on file

A smoothie cafe franchise with locations from California to New York, pitching new franchisees on its growth model.

Timeline

September 2026 October 2026

2 events Latest: October 8th, 2026 · 1 month ago

  1. Charlotte Bora Bora posts food establishment record

    Latest Regulatory

    Mecklenburg County Public Health logged Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe at 1226 Central Ave as a food establishment.

  2. Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe opens a D.C.-area shop

    Expansion

    The chain opened at 5807 Leesburg Pike in Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia, its second Washington, D.C.-area location. Around the same period it reported 34 locations across 15 states.

Scenarios

1

Charlotte smoothie shop clears a year of inspections without critical violations

Likely Resolves by Oct 8, 2027

Discussed by: Mecklenburg County Public Health food establishment records

The shop keeps operating and the county posts no critical violation for 1226 Central Ave in the 12 months after the permit date. This is the likeliest path: a permit filing at a working location usually precedes routine operation.

2

Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe pushes past 40 locations

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Chain's own growth claims and franchise listings on boraborausa.com

The franchise keeps opening shops in new metros, building on its roughly 30 listed locations. Tracking the count on its site and DoorDash gives a measurable expansion signal.

3

Charlotte location closes or drops off delivery networks

Unlikely Resolves by Oct 8, 2027

Discussed by: DoorDash listings and county permit records

The Charlotte shop stops appearing as orderable on DoorDash and its county food establishment permit lapses without renewal. This would mark the address leaving the market.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1973

Smoothie King (1973)

Smoothie King opened its first shop in Kenner, Louisiana, in 1973, selling vitamin-fortified smoothies from a single location. It later built a national franchise network spanning hundreds of stores.

Then

The first location proved the smoothie concept could draw repeat customers.

Now

Franchising carried the brand to most states and made smoothie shops a standard strip-mall tenant.

Why this matters now

Shows the smoothie-cafe model can scale through franchising, the same playbook Bora Bora is running.

1997

Tropical Smoothie Cafe (1997)

Tropical Smoothie Cafe started in Destin, Florida, in 1997 and expanded through franchising into a national chain with locations in most states.

Then

Franchising funded rapid growth beyond Florida.

Now

It normalized the smoothie-and-sandwich counter as a mainstream dining category.

Why this matters now

Another example of a regional smoothie brand going national, the expansion stage Bora Bora appears to be in.

Sources

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Mecklenburg County Public Health Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe DoorDash Annandale Today What Now Atlanta Hoodline Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe