Abaca Group opens comfort food concept
FOLLOWING the opening of Abaca Baking Company in Crossroads, Banilad six months ago, the Abaca Group led by its founder Jason Hyatt has embarked on a new food concept called Luncheonette, another addition to Cebu’s thriving food business.
Luncheonette, which is located at the ground floor of Robinson’s Cybergate, is Hyatt’s latest addition to its growing business empire that includes Abaca Restaurant, Abaca Boutique Resort, Maya Mexican Restaurant, Tavolata (an Italian trattoria), Phat Pho (a Vietnamese noodle shop) and Beqaa (a Middle Eastern kitchen).
“Luncheonette is a spin-off of the Abaca Baking Company. We felt there was an opportunity for another restaurant in Cybergate where our guests can take out sandwiches for a quick lunch,” said Hyatt.
The menu at Luncheonette is “comfort food-friendly”, from all breakfast-all-day items like corned beef hash, spam and eggs, and pancakes to hot sandwiches.
Banking on the changing preference of both local and foreign diners to home- grown food concepts, Hyatt announced the company is set to introduce three to four restaurant concepts this year, which will be opened to strategic neighborhood commercial strips within Cebu.
Hyatt said the Abaca Group is earmarking at least P60 million to introduce these new food concepts.
“We have cultivated the brand for 10 years and we think this is now the right time to expand the business with the huge aspiration of people,” said Hyatt.
He added he is also not closing doors to team up with other investors to grow the business. He is studying the franchising model as a way to expand.
“We are looking at franchising. At present, we are developing the system for two of our concepts,” Hyatt said, adding that he will cater to the Cebu market first before venturing into other cities.
“There is so much potential in Cebu. We don’t want to over-expand. We want to make sure we do things the way we do it,” he said.