Smashburger opens first Latin American restaurant in Costa Rica

costadevelopers.com

New restaurant is located at Lincoln Plaza mall in San José.

The U.S.-based fast food chain Smashburger opened its first Latin American restaurant in Costa Rica on Dec. 1.

The restaurant, located at Lincoln Plaza mall northeast of San José, is the first of 18 franchises planned for the region by partner Richard Eisenberg of QSR International. Eisenberg plans to open other locations in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

The new restaurant marks the third international market for the brand. It currently operates locations in Kuwait and Canada, and plans to open its next international locations in Saudi Arabia in early 2013, Smashburger CEO David Prokupek said.

“Our expansion into Latin America is an important milestone for Smashburger,“ he said. “We’ve built a brand that has a strong, passionate following well beyond the borders of the United States. Costa Rica is certain to be a great market for us.”

Posted by Costa Developers

Starbucks opens second Costa Rica location Today

The coffee giant will compete with three other stores in a new mall.

The official Facebook page of U.S. coffee giant Starbucks noted that its second store in Costa Rica will open Today at the new mall Lincoln Plaza in Moravia, northeast of the capital.

The chain opened its first store in Costa Rica in June, on Avenida Escazú, southwest of the capital. That store is Starbucks’ 565th location in Latin America and generated some 30 new jobs.

Other coffee shops planned for the new mall are Kafe Haus, Spoon and Ily Gourmet.

Starbucks has been a major buyer of Costa Rican coffee for years, and its menu includes Tico coffee from Bella Vista Coffee, a farm in Tres Ríos, southeast of San José.

Posted By Costa Developers.