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 name in Hollywood, California. This flagship location represents a key milestone in the company's retail and brand expansion strategy, centralizing brand ownership while enabling operational flexibility for growth. The license authorizes HRC Hospitality Corp. to use all Havana Roasters Coffee™ branded products, intellectual property, and operating concepts at the Hollywood location and future sites developed under the company's 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 in 2024 and has completed an extensive build-out to create a model store intended as a standardized template for future licensed, company-owned, or franchised locations. The new store will feature 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. but remains largely fragmented, 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 by the end of the first quarter of 2026, supported by a phased marketing program and community engagement events. The flagship location reflects over a year of development focused on delivering an authentic Cuban-style Ventanita experience in a modern cafe environment. While Cuban cafes operate in major U.S. cities, HRC believes its approach is differentiated by scalability, combining proprietary coffee products, standardized food offerings, and a repeatable retail format. The location is designed to function as a live testing and training environment, supporting product development, customer engagement strategies, staff training, and operational refinement.
Insights from this site 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 in executing the retail strategy, allowing the company to validate its operating model, refine customer experience, and establish a scalable foundation for growth. He added that beyond direct revenue, 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 formats is growing. Operating a flagship location in a high-visibility market provides direct-to-consumer insights that may enhance brand positioning and accelerate commercialization across channels. More information is available at thehrccompanies.com.
