2 Chainz Diversifies His Portfolio And Becomes A Franchisee Of Smoothie King

There appears to be no limits for 2 Chainz in his quest as an entrepreneur.

Krystal

As AFROTECH? previously reported the “I’m Different” artist was named the head of creative marketing for fast-food chain Krystal, a venture that pays homage to his upbringing with its sliders and shakes. 

The opportunity led to the launch of a series of new platforms and partnerships with the brand, such as menus, merchandising, and co-branded restaurants based in Atlanta, GA.

“I can remember Krystal being a part of so many pivotal moments of my childhood and teen years,” 2 Chainz said in a statement at the time. “Some of my best moments were made better by going to Krystal, and I’m a fan for life. I want everyone to feel that, too, and can’t wait to put Krystal in the spotlight it deserves.”

Esco Restaurant & Tapas

Scaling his interests in the food space, 2 Chainz has also franchised his Esco Restaurant & Tapas — created alongside his business partner Mychel “Snoop” Dillard in 2016 — with plans to expand into states including Texas and Tennessee, according to a Franchise Times report. In 2022, Jessica Shinholster was anticipated to be its first franchisee and was poised to open a location in Columbus, OH.

Investments

Furthermore, it was 2 Chainz’s previous experience investing in real estate that influenced his entrance into the hospitality industry, especially when he met fellow business owner Dillard.

“She’s one of the people that really made my transition into this hospitality space easier because, originally my introduction to the space was real estate. I own properties and dirt and stuff like that,” 2 Chainz said, per Franchise Times. “So that merged with her passion and mine and made me very comfortable in this space going on six years now.”

As AFROTECH? previously mentioned, the rapper purchased property for about $500,000 for his Atlanta-based ventures Esco Restaurant & Tapas, Pink Trap House museum, and Pamper Nail Studio. And the investment has paid off.

“Early on when I was hustling, I tried to do a couple of little things to flip my money as far as buying little apartment buildings, Section 8 homes, and stuff like that,” 2 Chainz recalled during an interview with “Earn Your Leisure.” “And then, I ventured out and I started buying commercial [real estate]. Something that I could turn into a business.”

He added, “When I bought this dirt here, I probably paid half a million dollars for it, which I know I done doubled or tripled that.”

Next Stop: The State Farm Arena In Atlanta

Among 2 Chainz’s growing list of investments, now sits Smoothie King. According to Nation’s Restaurant News, he will now be the owner of a location, in partnership with Smoothie King franchisee Philip Jones, that will be built in the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

“I visit Smoothie King at least twice a week, so this partnership has been a long time coming,” 2 Chainz said in a statement, per the outlet. “Throughout my health journey, I’ve been mindful of my choices, and when I go to games and events it’s no different – I’m always looking for nutritious options and Smoothie King is in a class of its own when it comes to delicious smoothies with no added sugar.”

Wan Kim, Smoothie King CEO, commented:

“As we continue to expand, we’re thrilled to welcome 2 Chainz to our franchisee family—not to mention in collaboration with one of our great partners in the Atlanta Hawks. 2 Chainz’s passion for health and wellness aligns perfectly with our mission to inspire a healthy and active lifestyle; that coupled with his entrepreneurial spirit, embodies the essence of our brand and makes this a perfect match.”