Havana Roasters Coffee Companies Inc. has granted a license to HRC Hospitality Corp. to operate the company's first branded cafe under the Havana Roasters Coffee Cuban Bakery & Sandwich Bar banner in Hollywood, California. This flagship location represents a key milestone in the company's retail and brand expansion strategy, centralizing brand ownership at the parent level while enabling operational flexibility for growth.
The license authorizes HRC Hospitality Corp. to utilize all Havana Roasters Coffee™ branded products, intellectual property, and operating concepts at the Hollywood location and future sites developed under the company's strategic guidance. Havana Roasters Coffee Company Inc. will receive a licensing fee and hold a negotiated equity stake in this location. HRC Hospitality Corp. acquired the lease for the Hollywood location in 2024 and has since completed an extensive build-out to create a model store designed to serve as a standardized operating template for future licensed, company-owned, or franchised locations.
The new store will feature uniquely Cuban-style gourmet coffee, a 24-hour walk-up window, a sandwich bar, and a bakery with company-made pastelitos and desserts. Cuban-style coffee is one of the most widely recognized ethnic coffee traditions in the U.S. yet remains largely fragmented and localized, creating an opportunity for a branded, scalable concept built on authenticity. The company is nearing completion of the build-out and expects to commence operations at the end of Q1 2026, supported by a phased marketing program and targeted media and community engagement events.
The flagship location reflects more than a year of development focused on delivering an authentic Cuban-style Ventanita experience integrated into a modern, efficient cafe environment. While Cuban cafes operate successfully in major U.S. cities, HRC believes its concept is differentiated by a purpose-built approach to scalability, combining proprietary coffee products, standardized food offerings, and a repeatable retail format designed for expansion. The location is intended to function as a live testing and training environment, supporting product development, customer engagement strategies, staff training programs, and operational refinement. Insights gained are expected to inform future site selection, unit economics, and rollout planning.
Gabriel Martinez, Chairman and CEO of Havana Roasters Coffee Companies Inc., stated that the Hollywood flagship marks an important step forward in executing the company's retail strategy, allowing it to validate the operating model, refine the customer experience, and establish a scalable foundation for future growth. Martinez added that beyond direct revenue generation, the cafe serves as a strategic asset supporting product innovation, brand visibility, and disciplined expansion across high-traffic urban markets.
The Hollywood retail launch complements the company's broader multi-channel growth strategy, which includes wholesale distribution, consumer packaged goods, e-commerce, hospitality services, and future franchise opportunities. With nearly half of American coffee consumption being specialty coffee, consumer interest in premium and differentiated formats is growing. By operating a flagship location in a high-visibility market, HRC gains direct-to-consumer insights that may enhance brand positioning and accelerate commercialization across channels. More information about the company is available at thehrccompanies.com.
