It looks like a Smoothie King will be built on the small tract of land at the northwest corner of Lee Avenue and Veterans Boulevard (Hwy. A) near the Fazoli’s restaurant in Festus.
“We’re hoping to close and get (construction) underway by the end of the year or first part of January,” said developer Chris Zoellner of Balke Brown Transwestern, which represents Smoothie King in St. Louis. “Depending on the weather, we should have it ready for Smoothie King by May. It should take another 30 or so days for Smoothie King to get it ready.”
Zoellner said his company believes the 0.28-acre tract will be a good spot for the business because it’s near the on-ramp to northbound I-55 and will be visible to commuters.
“It’s what they call the ‘going-to-work’ side of the road,” he said.
Zoellner said the company will build a 1,200-square-foot free-standing building with a drive-through for the Smoothie King.
Smoothie King, headquartered in Dallas, is known for its blended beverages and also offers snacks.
Previously, there were proposals to build a Starbucks and then a Dunkin’ Donuts on the site, but those plans fell through.
Balke Brown has submitted a site plan to the city for the Smoothie King, a step the other two proposed developments never reached, building official Matt Clemens said at the Nov. 14 Festus City Council meeting.
The city of Festus owned the tract for several years after receiving it from the Missouri Department of Transportation when the agency reconfigured the Lee Avenue-Veterans Boulevard intersection and gave leftover property to the city.
In December 2016, the council approved selling the tract to Balke Brown for $135,000.
Mayor Mike Cage said he is happy to welcome Smoothie King to Festus.
“It’s another business coming to town and it’s something new to us,” Cage said. “I’m kind of curious to see what they’re going to have.”