Smoothie King, the popular seller of specialty fruit drinks and healthy snacks, is expected to open a new franchise at the Village at Waugh Chapel later this winter.

The New Orleans-based chain said the new store is scheduled to open on March 8 on Main Chapel Way, in the space formerly occupied by Little Treasury Jewelers before they moved into a larger location across the street in the fall.

The Gambrills franchise would be the only one in Anne Arundel County and the 13th in Maryland.

Smoothie King spokesman Bobby Williams said there were no immediate plans to open any additional franchises in the area, but that the company would explore any location that makes good business sense.

Currently, the closest Smoothie King franchises are located in College Park and Columbia.

Smoothie King has more than 515 locations in the United States and 620 worldwide, most recently opening stores in the Cayman Islands.