Così (restaurant) facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Traded as | NASDAQ: COSI |
| Industry | Fast casual restaurant Franchising |
| Founded | 1996, in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Drew Harre |
| Headquarters |
Mountainside, New Jersey
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United States
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Number of locations
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20 (November 2020) |
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Area served
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New York Washington D.C. Virginia Pennsylvania Massachusetts Connecticut Illinois Indiana Ohio |
Così is an American restaurant chain. It is known for its delicious homemade flatbread. The company is based in Boston, Massachusetts. The name "Così" comes from an opera that the first owner really liked. In November 2020, Così had 20 restaurants. These were in states like New York, Washington D.C., and Illinois. This was fewer than the 66 locations it had earlier that year. The company faced financial challenges in February 2020.
Contents
History of Così
How Così Started
The very first Così restaurant opened in 1989. It was started by Drew Harre in Paris, France. Later, in 1996, Shep and Jay Wainwright opened the first Così in the United States. This restaurant was in New York City.
In October 1999, Così joined with another company called Xando.
Becoming a Public Company
Così became a public company in 2002. This means its shares could be bought and sold by anyone. A year later, Kevin Armstrong became the chief executive officer (CEO). The CEO is like the main boss of the company.
In June 2010, Così sold its restaurants in Washington D.C. to another company. These became franchise locations. A franchise is a business that uses the name and system of a larger company.
Changes and Challenges
In March 2014, a person named RJ Dourney became the new CEO. He was a very successful owner of many Così franchises. The company also moved its main office to Boston, Massachusetts. However, in August 2016, RJ Dourney was no longer the CEO.
That same year, Così faced big financial problems. The company had to close some of its stores. Because of these problems, Così's shares were no longer traded on the NASDAQ stock market. The company also looked for buyers for its business.
Coming Back and New Challenges
In May 2017, Così got new owners. These new owners helped the company get back on its feet. However, on February 25, 2020, Così again faced financial difficulties. They had to close more locations. The company then decided to seek help from the government during the pandemic. After getting through the pandemic, Così again faced financial challenges on July 1, 2022.
