After a two-year run operating as Caffe Bene, the franchisees have dropped the brand in favor of their own new concept.
Today is the soft opening of The Press Coffee & Juice Bar in Farmers Park, where husband and wife Seung Hwan Lee and Alice Oh opened Caffe Bene in late 2014.
“It was a trial,” Oh said. “There is no Caffe Bene here in the Midwest. We wanted to see if it would work, and if it didn’t we would go a different route.”
The owners legally changed the name in December in preparation for rolling out new signage and menus focused on raw, organic cold-pressed juices and other light foods, such as sandwiches and quinoa bowls.
Oh said the Caffe Bene franchise agreement has dissolved, and no franchise fees were owed in the switch.
The couple is investing under $100,000 to convert to The Press, which Oh said employs eight. The grand opening is planned for Saturday.
The South Korea-based Caffe Bene brand has 1,600 cafes modeled after traditional European coffee houses in 12 countries. According to Caffe Bene franchise materials, the company charges a $35,000 franchise fee, 6.9 percent of sales for royalties and a 3 percent marketing fee. The franchise materials state initial franchise terms typically are for 10 years but may vary.
The company entered U.S. markets in 2012 through New York City. The Springfield store is still listed on its
website as the only Missouri location.