P.R.’s 1st $500K Wendy’s Café opens in Guaynabo
The new Wendy’s Cafe in San Patricio. (Credit: Yadira Hernández-Picó)
Executives from Wendco de Puerto Rico, the franchisee of the Wendy’s restaurant chain on the island, announced Monday the reopening of its San Patricio location, which now includes the first Wendy’s Café in Puerto Rico.
The restaurant’s remodeling represents an investment of approximately $500,000 as well as the creation of 14 jobs during the construction phase; this, in addition to the existing 36 direct jobs on an operational level.
Jorge Colón-Gerena, president of Wendco of Puerto Rico, said the chain’s new concept is “remarkable for its cozy design, perfect for relaxing, as well as a different menu that includes premium Puerto Rican coffee and a large assortment of teas, Frosty, fruit frappes, snacks, specialty desserts made in Puerto Rico by a local company, and other high quality beverages.”
Wendy’s Café will occupy approximately 140 square feet of the restaurant’s 2,270 total square footage. The restaurant’s design features an enhanced interior esthetic aimed at inviting the patron to a unique experience, employing striking colors such as red and minimalist elements, including: an oversized imperial table, spiral lighting, leather furniture in a variety of colors, mosaics on the walls and brick, executives said.
“The concept of a Café as a place to relax with friends or business colleagues is a worldwide trend that is quickly gaining popularity in diverse markets. Bringing this to Puerto Rico is a natural step in continuing to expand our business and strengthen our agenda of culinary innovation by offering quality products and increasing our variety and value,” said Colón-Gerena, who did not rule out the possibility of opening a similar concept in Puerto Rico in the future.
True to the company’s commitment to sourcing products from local suppliers, Wendy’s Café will offer premium Puerto Rican coffees from renowned roaster Gustos, including: café latte, cappuccino, espresso, mocha, and Gibraltar (“cortadito”, as it is known in Spanish).
The establishment will also offer a wide variety of beverages such as tea, fruit frappes and classics such as Wendy’s Frosty, among others. The snack and specialty dessert menu is made more robust with a wide selection created by Puerto Rican pastry maker Delicadas, and features sweets such as lemon bars, caramel bars, guava bars, Nutella bars, brownies, and more.
For his part, Miguel González, vice president of operations at Empresas Caparra, the parent company of San Patricio Plaza, said, “We’re honored to host this new Wendy’s concept here in San Patricio Village, the first of its kind in Puerto Rico. We’re confident that it will be of great benefit to all customers that visit San Patricio Village because we offer them an innovative alternative and a product whose quality is well known.”
Great!!! Make sure you get there in the first 2 weeks before its destroyed by teenagers and dirty diapers. Dont forget to give the drug addicts out front your change as well