Tropical Smoothie Cafe — Restaurant in Bowie

Wow. LONG POST ALERT: I'm so disappointed to read the poor reviews, but I'm not surprised. I've been patronizing this location since it opened. I inquired if it were black owned my first visit there and learned that it was. I was so excited to support this establishment. The store is clean and is suited in a wonderful location. I believe the owners take much pride in this business; I've seen them on at least 2 occasions working behind the counter. I've had several unfortunate experiences at this location. I never wrote a review and I never complained. I extend tons and tons of chances to people because I simply hope people will learn and get better. Plus, these are young men and women working and they need job experience and you want them to win. No one wants any young person to get fired. However, recently I decided that I would take my business to the Smoothie King in Bowie Town Center. Both locations are a 10-12 minute drive from my home. I made this decision after watching a few of the team members wear their masks under their noses; talking way too much over the smoothies during this sensitive season, terrible, terrible customer service and lack in professionalism..this is after giving this establishment chance after chance to get customer service and delays together over the past several months. If they refuse to do better with their attitude and customer service, they're only hurting themselves and this establishment. I can go elsewhere. I don't understand it. Something told me to search and check their reviews... I must say though that there are several wonderful team members who are focused and extend great customer service. But the few that are rude and lack all around are unfortunately ruining this business. It's sad. My solution: You must get rid of the bad apples. The bad apple may even make a smoothie better than another team member, but, if the attitude and lack of customer service professionalism exists, get rid of them and train the other team member on how to make better smoothies. Good thing is that the owner of the Smoothie King franchise is also black and we need more black business owners in Bowie/PG County. I wish that I could continue to support this particular Tropical...

I've called corporate on these thieves. I came in two days in a row and ordered the same items, however I looked at my receipt and noticed I was charged two different prices. No problem, I let the worker know and to my dismay, they tell me there is NOTHING they can do? Umm, we can start a refund for the difference...it got so bad I asked for the police to be called. Unfortunately I had to go back to work...the manager tells me it's only 1.50 bucks and the person didn't ring me up correctly???? We make over 150,000 a year I don't care if it is a penny!!! It is principle at this point. How many other people in our community have been over charged!! I'm not done with this...I had to go in the store after waiting for over 20 minutes. Horrible and shameful!!! Somebody will be refunding the difference in my order. Shameful! THREW FOOD? PLEASE LOOK AT ALL OF THE HORRIBLE REVIEWS ABOUT YOUR LOCATION. WE ARE UPSTANDING CITIZENS OF BOWIE AND WILL BE CONTACTING THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING YOUR HORRIBLE BUSINESS. AND TO LIE AND SAY WE THREW FOOD IS DESPICABLE. YOU SHOULD REFUND MONEY THAT YOU HAVE OVERCHARGED. I ASKED FOR THE POLICE TO BE CALLED. I EVEN HAVE A STATEMENT FROM A CUSTOMER THAT WAS APPAULED THAT YOU DID NOT RETURN 1.50 CENTS. PLEASE CHECK ALL OF TBE REVIEWS ABOUT YOUR STORE EVEN THE REVIEW ABOUT YOUR WORKERS STEALING MONEY. THIS IS A THING WITH YOUR ESTABLISHMENT!! Instead of refunding what you owe, you instead rebuttle with lies. THIS is why your reviews look the way they do. Shameful, lying, owners who care nothing about stealing from customers. People are sick of this location! This is the character of these folks to lie to the police about throwing food. I hope you have a camera that can prove that when I contact my attorney for Defamation of character with your lies. And ya have lied to the police. SMH prime example of a business that couldn't afford, staff, ingredients or customer service training. Most businesses would have made it right and not have the situation Escalate. We have to to something about...

They were beyond RUDE. My two daughters, ages 6&10, and I went there today around 3:00pm. It was bad from the door. I guess they don't wear uniforms because everyone except one person was wearing anything close to a uniform. People were walking back and forth from the tables out front to behind the counter. No one welcomed us.

My daughter, age 10, is learning how to manage her own money so she went to the counter to order her food. After she orders her food she takes out a $50.00 bill to pay and tells her they can't take $50 dollar bills. I get up to see what's wrong after my daughter looks at me confused. He tells me they do not take $50s, I ask why and he just looks at another employee. So I ask him the same question after uncomfortably looking at each other for too long. He just shrubs his shoulders and says we just don't. I'm already disappointed in the service.

Then they called the order for a mature gentleman sitting down. After he gets his food in a bowl, he looks confused and says I order a pizza. They said yes. It is a pizza, we put it into a bowl in a very nonchalant/dismissive manner. ( I hate seeing our seniors treated poorly) He says why didn't you tell me it was going to be in a bowl when I ordered it? I thought it was going to come in a box. They replied simply, "well it's in the bowl. ) My daughters were in shock. Even they knew that was awful service.

He again repeats that he ordered pizza and he felt like he should have been told it would come in a bowl earlier. They again said we're out of boxes so we put into a bowl. "What's wrong with you? Bowls are better than boxes. " Then the young lady turns her back on him and walks away while he is still asking her questions. It was the worst thing I ever saw. She had zero regard for this customer's question and reasonable confusion as it relates to the food he ordered.

It got worse from there, but I'm...