Caffe Bene facts for kids
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| Industry | Coffee shop |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 2008 |
| Headquarters | |
| Owner | Sun-Kwon Kim |
Caffe Bene is a popular coffeehouse chain that started in Seoul, South Korea. It was founded in May 2008 by Sun-Kwon Kim. Caffe Bene grew to become the largest coffee chain in South Korea. By April 2012, it had 760 stores there.
Caffe Bene began opening stores in other countries in February 2012, starting with New York City. A month later, it opened a store in Beijing, China. The company has continued to expand worldwide. By April 2014, Caffe Bene had many stores around the world. These included 945 stores in Korea, 86 in the United States, and 283 in China. They also had stores in Canada, the Philippines, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore, Japan, and Vietnam. The number of Caffe Bene stores keeps growing.
In November 2014, Caffe Bene announced plans for its first drive-through coffee shop. This store opened in December 2014 in Little Falls, New Jersey.
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The Story of Caffe Bene
Sun-Kwon Kim, who started Caffe Bene, traveled to Canada. He noticed how popular local coffee shops were there. He felt confident he could create a coffee brand that would be just as successful.
Caffe Bene's design is inspired by open-air cafes found in Europe. The word "Bene" in the company's name means "good" in Italian. This brand combines the relaxed European cafe style with the traditional Korean culture of "Sarangbang". A Sarangbang is a special room in a Korean house for studying and meeting guests.
Caffe Bene in New York City
Caffe Bene opened its first international store in New York City on February 1, 2012. This large coffee shop is located in Manhattan's Theater District, near Times Square. It is one of the biggest coffee shops in that area.
Caffe Bene in New York City offers coffee drinks and Belgian waffles. They even have savory waffles with bacon and Parmesan cheese. The inside of this store was designed to look like famous city landmarks. These include the Brooklyn Bridge and the New York City Subway. Caffe Bene also used recycled materials for the store's design.
Caffe Bene in Los Angeles
A Caffe Bene store opened in Los Angeles in the summer of 2012. It was on the ground floor of the CGV mall. Other popular South Korean cafes like Paris Baguette and Tom N Toms were also there. This store had a multimedia projector showing K-pop music videos. It also featured wooden tables and cement floors.
In 2013, another Caffe Bene opened on Wilshire Boulevard. Many people felt this new location had a cozier feel. It also had high ceilings and an improved design.
Caffe Bene in Boston
A Caffe Bene store opened in Boston in 2014. It is located on Huntington Avenue. This store is near Northeastern University. It competes with other coffee shops in that busy area.
Caffe Bene in Suwanee, Georgia
You can find a Caffe Bene in Suwanee, Georgia. It is located at 3131 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road.
Other International Locations
Caffe Bene has expanded to many countries around the world:
- The first store in Cambodia opened in November 2013.
- The first store in Taiwan also opened in November 2013.
- The first store in Japan opened on December 24, 2013. However, all Japanese stores closed by 2018.
- The first store in Mongolia opened in December 2012.
- The first store in Indonesia opened in 2013.
- The first store in Malaysia opened in March 2014.
- The first store in Vietnam opened in August 2014.
- The first store in Singapore opened in November 2015.
- The first store in Brunei Darussalam opened in March 2017.
- The first store in Philippines opened in October 2012.
- The first store in Saudi Arabia also opened.
What Caffe Bene Sells
Like many other coffee chains, Caffe Bene offers a variety of items. They sell brewed coffee and espresso drinks. You can also find many hot and cold beverages.
Their menu includes pastries, sandwiches, and waffles. They also serve delicious gelato. Caffe Bene often has a special seasonal menu with unique food and drinks.
One special item Caffe Bene offers is misugaru. This is a traditional Korean drink. It is made from healthy ingredients like black sesame seeds, black beans, black and brown rice, and barley.
