Havana Roasters Coffee Companies Inc. (OTC: THRC) has opened its first licensed Havana Roasters Coffee Cuban Bakery & Sandwich Bar in Hollywood, California, a move that transforms more than two years of planning into an operating, revenue-generating store. The cafe, located at 5931 Franklin Avenue, opened in a phased soft format, with a grand opening celebration to be announced. The opening is significant because it marks the first time the HRC brand is experienced directly by consumers, rather than solely through licensing, roasting, and distribution. Through a license to HRC Hospitality Corp., the Company earns licensing fees and holds an equity stake, creating a new revenue stream and a direct feedback loop with customers.
The flagship brings an authentic Cuban Ventanita experience to a modern cafe, offering artisan-roasted cafecito, colada, cortadito, and café con leche, along with a scratch bakery making pastelitos and traditional desserts on site, and a sandwich bar serving Cuban classics built to order. A walk-up window is designed to extend service into evening and late-night hours on one of the busiest corridors in the Hollywood Hills Franklin Village area of Los Angeles. The cafe is currently operating with a limited menu and controlled volume while the team fine-tunes systems and training under real customer conditions, with the full menu and extended hours to follow. A visual of the flagship location is available through Havana Roasters Coffee Cuban Bakery & Sandwich Bar,Flagship Hollywood Location.
For shareholders, the opening represents a structural change. Management believes the flagship advances four strategic objectives: proof of concept by validating consumer appeal beyond South Florida in the nation’s second-largest media market; a replicable template for a credible franchise offering; a product laboratory to test packaged goods, single-serve, and ready-to-drink concepts before wholesale commitment; and brand visibility through a Hollywood flagship generating earned media and awareness that support every other channel. As CEO Gabriel Martinez stated, “We didn’t spend two years building this store to open it quietly - we opened it carefully. Miami taught the country what Cuban coffee is. Hollywood is where we introduce it to the rest of the world - one window, one cup, and one customer at a time.”
The implications extend beyond a single cafe. If successful, the Hollywood location could serve as a blueprint for national expansion, attract franchise partners, and drive demand for HRC’s packaged goods. The equity stake means the Company benefits directly from the cafe’s performance, aligning its interests with those of the licensee. Moreover, the location in a high-traffic media market provides a platform for marketing and brand-building that could enhance the value of the overall enterprise. As the first licensed store, it also demonstrates the viability of HRC’s licensing model to potential investors and partners. More information is available at thehrccompanies.com.
