Birth of a franchise: Coffee Prince cafe opens
by javabeans
Riding the Wave of Popularity for Drama “Coffee Prince,” Cafe Launches in Hongdae
MBC embarks on franchise; first store of opens in Hongdae’s “Theater Chu” on the 20thBefore the hit drama Coffee Prince Store #1‘s popularity has a chance to subside, a real-life “Coffee Prince” will be reopened. Entering the new franchise venture is a team from MBC Global business headquarters; the flagship first location will open on the 20th in Hongdae.
At the outset, MBC had announced its intention to open the business if the drama met with success, which has now become a reality. In the past, there were the Dae Jang Geum Restaurant and Samsoon’s Bakery, but those enterprises were undertaken in response to success of the dramas, which left insufficient time to prepare and plan properly, and the projects flopped.
SONG OF THE DAY
Mon Murmure – “Espresso, Let’s talk about coffee.” Mon Murmure is actually a Japanese indie pop group/artist, but is moderately popular among Korean indie-music fans, and enjoys the same audience as other Pastel Music label fans (they’re imported through Pastel), such as Coffee Prince regulars Tearliner, The Melody et al. [ zShare download ]
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On the 18th and 19th, models wearing the uniforms like those in the drama will be there to advertise the opening, along with baristas performing latte art. The cafe plans to differentiate itself from other coffee chains by using specially imported Spanish coffee beans and premier espresso; it’ll also be selling coffee, wine, waffles, cakes etc.
If the first store does well, plans are to open the second and third locations in Cheongdam, Ilsan and other neighborhoods.
(Fyi, the pic up top is, as we all recognize, from the shooting location. The article doesn’t indicate whether the real cafe is where the drama filmed — I’m thinking it probably isn’t the same place. The map below, however, does indicate its location in Seoul’s Hongdae neighborhood. Thanks to the bloggers whose sites I stole these pics from; alas I forget which ones they were!)
Sources: No Cut News and Money Today
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1 ellie
October 18, 2007 at 2:04 PM
First to comment!
My friend came by yesterday and we watched coffee prince from the first episode to the 12th, (it was a marathon from 11 am to 11pm), we would have finished the lot if not..that
I came off a night shift and she will be working a long day the following day!
We really loved the show that we are planning to visit Seoul next year and hopefully have coffee at the shop..
This is just like a wish come true!
Can we have directions please (can't read Korean symbols) he he he!
If it was not the place where they shot it first? would it be the same?
Here's looking forward to that cuppa!
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2 Iranian Espresso
October 18, 2007 at 3:00 PM
Yes, Let's talk about coffee...
Thank You Dear Javabeans
Oh my beautiful summer nights, Eun Chan, Han Gyul and Javabeans.
Thank You, you take me to those nights.
Interesting news.
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3 Jo
October 18, 2007 at 4:18 PM
hahaha, I never knew that they would actually start shops and restaurants after shows. I do know they make dolls and stuff, but shops? hmmm for me thats a little weird.
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4 fay-lo
October 18, 2007 at 4:27 PM
too bad gong yoo won't be there serving coffee, looking ALL delicious, and oh my princes neither... (sigh!) ...but its cool i guess... wonder if the producers of friends will ever open a ''central perk'' ... :P
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5 ina
October 18, 2007 at 6:19 PM
I have visited the coffee shop, but has to admit that their coffee is not too special. There're a lot to be done to improve it.
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6 Eve
October 18, 2007 at 7:22 PM
I heard that the Coffee Prince set is open as a cafe already? Apparently it's very very expensive...I must visit the set though keke...
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7 Tessa
October 18, 2007 at 8:41 PM
omg i hope it spreads like wildfire; like starbucks--twice on every street (thrice if by campus).
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8 Milia
October 18, 2007 at 8:52 PM
Looking forward to taste the coffee ..
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9 marzy
October 18, 2007 at 9:12 PM
omg!! i wanna go there!! i wanna run to korea now... its on my list of must go's for next time!
looks great.. coffee = goodness!!
sarah, can u help in deciphering the map though? i havent gone to that area of seoul before..
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10 tuesday72
October 18, 2007 at 9:18 PM
omigosh.... I want to go there! but well I can't ... I'm in another part of the world.... *sigh*
i'll just dream on.
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11 Ptron
October 19, 2007 at 1:35 AM
FYI, the cafe is the same one they used for the filming...the only reason I know is because the map is for the same place....My one-room officetel that I lived in this summer is located about a block from it.^^
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12 Marie
October 19, 2007 at 1:10 PM
Oh my gosh!!! YES!!!! I'm so excited, and so glad that even after the last episode of Coffee Prince aired like 2 and 1/2 months ago, there's still news from CP! hahah I'm so in love with this drama...*anyway* Thanks for the info, Dramabeans! I really want to go to Korea right now X)...do you know where the Coffee Prince cafe is located near (approx)?
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13 Movall
October 19, 2007 at 1:42 PM
Thanks Javabeans for your update, love your blog so much.
ina, you've been there already? And Ptron, you spent your summer near the filming location? How lucky you guys are.
Found this information about the shop in Tour2Korea website, see the "How to get there" for more details. Oh, I will be there next February, still have to wait 4 months :)
http://english.tour2korea.com/02Culture/TVMiniseries/CoffeePrince.asp
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14 twreckx
October 19, 2007 at 11:20 PM
I was surprised as heck watching a Japanese movie Like a Dragon (2007)vand lo and behold who shows up? Gong Yoo! I didn't even recognise him for a couple of sconds. Thought you might find this interesting...
http://www.koreanmovie.com/Lee_Jun_Ki_to_return_as_Iljimae_news1389/
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15 Leya
October 21, 2007 at 9:47 PM
I may be nuts but I want to bring Coffee Prince into Singapore! wahahahaha. It'll be so cool to coincide its opening with the airing date of the show here.
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16 aye
October 22, 2007 at 6:06 AM
I went to the cafe about two weeks ago, and it's the same place where they shot the movie.
THe coffee there costs 8,000~12,000 Korean won (around $8-12).
Some of the waiters are also good looking and they're definitely living up to the coffee 'prince" concept..hehehe
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17 aye
October 22, 2007 at 6:07 AM
i meant drama...hehehe
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18 Gramps
October 22, 2007 at 6:30 AM
#16 aye "The coffee there costs 8,000~12,000 Korean won"
Eeek! So what does coffee cost nowadays in Seoul at a place where you aren't paying for the "brand"? It would be interesting to know what the image-related markup is and how many people are willing to pay it.
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19 rocketfuel
October 22, 2007 at 9:06 AM
It would be smarter to open them up in Japan...mo'money that way.
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20 michi
October 30, 2007 at 8:52 AM
what?? 8,000~12,000 Korean won for a cup of coffee?? wow! that's more expensive than starbucks!
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21 mikka
May 10, 2008 at 10:12 PM
...i wanna visit it someday!!!^.^
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22 fara
June 30, 2008 at 7:39 PM
oh I didn't know that, I was wondering if it's the same set use for the bigbang parody. since there are a lot of autographs already on the walls if you see it in youtube.
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23 cbcnamja
October 1, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Hi Everyone,
For those of you who want to see the location of Coffee Prince and Han Kyul's rooftop house, I had it marked on Google Map and Google Earth. If you don't have Google Earth, here's a link where you can also see it:
http://www.panoramio.com/tags/
Once you're at panoramio, type "coffee prince" in the find tag text box. Then click on the photos and it will show the map. You will probably have to click the "+" to zoom in for a good view.
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24 ronal
October 9, 2008 at 5:23 AM
caffe prince the bets INDONESIA
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25 Susan
July 15, 2009 at 7:32 PM
In case anyone wants to know, Coffee Prince just opened it's first store in the US in Palisades Park, New Jersey.
it's pretty nice, and the coffee was decent
http://www.coffeeprinceusa.com/
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