On any given day in Pace, you might walk into Tropical Smoothie Cafe and think you are just grabbing a smoothie. But for Amanda and Jarrett Melvin, this café is something much deeper. It is personal. It is purposeful. And at the center of it all is their daughter, Aeris.
Aeris is not just part of their story; she is the reason it exists.
As parents of a child with special needs, Amanda and Jarrett see the world a little differently. They think about the future in a way most people do not have to. They think about stability, about care, about what happens decades from now which is what led them here.
Melvin Eats was not built just to open restaurants. It was built to create something lasting; something that will continue to support Aeris and surround her with opportunity, love, and security for the rest of her life. But somewhere along the way, it became something even bigger.
Owning a Tropical Smoothie Cafe has given the Melvins something they did not fully expect, it has rooted them deeply into the heart of their community. It has given them the ability to show up, to give back, and to be present in meaningful ways.
Their café is not just a business. It is a gathering place.
It is where friendships are formed between team members from different backgrounds and cultures. It is where employees become family. It is where laughter fills the room during a busy shift and where young team members learn confidence, responsibility, and pride. It is where the Melvins have built a team that makes life feel fun, diverse, and full of energy.
“Some of our favorite moments are just being in the store with our team,” Amanda shared. “It is loud, it is fast, it is chaotic…but it is ours. And it is filled with people who make life better.”
That same heart carries into everything they do outside the café walls.
Through their Fuel Her Game initiative, the Melvins are investing in girls’ sports across Pace, Milton, and beyond—supporting teams, showing up at games, and making sure young female athletes feel seen and supported. Through Fuel Her Future, they are working to go even further by creating opportunities and scholarships that help young women build confidence, chase goals, and believe in what is possible for their lives.
Because to them, it is not just about smoothies. It is about impact.
That same spirit shows up in their plans for National Teacher Appreciation Week, where they will deliver more than 700 smoothies to five local schools. But for the Melvins, it is not just about the number. It is about walking into those schools, looking teachers in the eye, and saying thank you. It is about recognizing Teacher of the Year and Rookie of the Year recipients; people who are shaping the future of this community every single day, often without recognition. It is about showing their daughter—and every child watching—that giving back matters.
The Melvins have also partnered with local organizations like Santa Rosa Elite Basketball and continue to look for ways to support schools, teams, and families throughout the area. Because at the end of the day, this journey has never just been about business growth.
It is about building a life that is meaningful.
It is about creating a place where their daughter is surrounded by a strong, loving community.
It is about building something that lasts not just financially, but emotionally.
And as they look ahead to future locations in Milton, Miramar Beach, Defuniak Springs, and beyond, that mission is not changing.
If anything, it is only getting stronger.
“We are not just opening stores,” Jarrett said. “We are building a life—for our daughter, for our team, and for the community that has welcomed us in.”
And inside that café in Pace, between the blenders running and the laughter behind the counter, you can feel it.
This is not just a business.
It is a family story still being written.
