Dallas-based Smoothie King Franchises Inc. plans to open a store in St. Clair Shores — the first in a wave of the smoothie stores planned to open in lower Michigan over the next three-five years.

Under a franchise agreement between Smoothie King and Northern Blends LLC, headed by Christopher Klebba, the franchisee is moving the needle on plans to open more than 50 stores in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

The first store, at 27735 Harper Ave. in St. Clair Shores, opens Monday and will employ 25. A grand opening is scheduled for March 23, when the first 50 guests in line when the store opens at 8 a.m. will receive a yearlong supply of smoothies, according to a news release.

Klebba, 26, said he wants to bring "healthy options to the underserved," and that the Smoothie King brand "hits the bullseye on casual health."

He is new to the smoothie business, but he is no stranger to franchises. Klebba comes from franchise group Impact Fitness, owned by his father Chris Klebba, which owns 22 Planet Fitness gyms in Michigan and Indiana, according to a May news release.

He's also the CEO of Northern Diamond Management, an equity management firm established in 2017, which focuses on investments and management opportunities.

"We are committed to making an active lifestyle attainable for people in our community, and we see a real need for an offering like Smoothie King," Klebba said in the release. "We were attracted to the Smoothie King brand because its mission to inspire people to live healthy, active lifestyles is perfectly aligned with ours, and we fell in love with the brand and the people."

Smoothie King says it uses whole fruits and vegetables without added sugars, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. It offers gluten-free and vegan options, and flavors including Greek yogurt, peach papaya, dark chocolate banana and more.

Total investment is about $1 million on average per store, according to Klebba. He plans to open 10 stores this year, including one in Chesterfield Township at 23 Mile and Gratiot Avenue and another in Livonia by late spring.

Smoothie King, based in Dallas and established in 1973, has more than 1,000 units worldwide.