Historic Core Welcomes First Coffee Franchise

For Immediate Release Contact: Kerry Aubry VEDC (818) 314-4997cell Historic Core Welcomes First Coffee Franchise VEDC’s Retail Project Helps Kelly’s Coffee & Fudge Go Where Others Have Refused to Go Los Angeles, CA – VEDC's Historic Downtown Retail Project has successfully lured the first Kelly’s Coffee and Fudge to Historic Downtown. Kelly’s will be the first coffee chain in the area, which has been repeatedly rebuffed by Starbucks and Coffee Bean. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Monday, June 16th at 12:00 p.m. at 227 W. 8th St., in the Chapman Building. On hand at the festivities will be Los Angeles City Council Member, Jose Huizar, Morris Rahmani, franchise owner, Warren Cooley, VEDC Director of Retail and Economic Development, Kenny Goodman, from Kelly's Coffee & Fudge Factory and Ben Cohan, owner of Chapman Lofts. Kelly's Coffee & Fudge Factory is a full service coffee house, offering traditional hot and cold coffee drinks, fudge, caramel apples, and specialty chocolates. It also offers a light lunch menu and a breakfast menu. The 8th & Broadway store is Kelly's first location to also offer kosher items. Mary Gerlick, Co-President of Kelly’s, says of the franchise opening, "Kelly's Coffee & Fudge Factory is excited about opening its first location in Downtown Los Angeles at 8th & Broadway, and looks forward to opening many more in the Downtown area." VEDC’s Retail Project began working with Mary Gerlick, in 2005, to find a location for their first store in Downtown. VEDC then introduced Mary to the owner of the Chapman Lofts Building, who was looking for a coffee house and had been unsuccessful in his talks with Coffee Bean. It was a perfect match, and Kelly's Coffee soon found, Morris Rahmani, as the franchisee. Rahmani also owns a nearby jewelry business. VEDC’s Director of Retail and Economic Development, Warren Cooley, says, “This is a perfect example of what the retail project strives to do. We use our resources to make business happen and thrive in the Historic Core. We are proud to welcome Kelly’s Coffee and Fudge to this area.” The project is also assisting Kelly’s with marketing support for the new store and helping to bring a second Kelly’s to the area in the near future. VEDC’s Historic Downtown Retail Project is a Los Angeles Business Assistance Program funded by the City of Los Angeles Community Development Department. The Project seeks to assist in the revitalization of Historic Downtown with its business assistance services. Since 2004, the project has helped bring 35 businesses to the area, consulting with over 300 more. The project has also generated over 173 jobs and approximately $5 million in loans to establish businesses and purchase real estate.