Genesis BBQ Group, which operates the chicken franchise BBQ, announced on the 5th that it has opened a BBQ store on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu on the island of OA, Hawaii. This is the third store in Hawaii following the first store at Kuono Mall and the second store in Aiea.
BBQ's decision to open a new store on Waikiki Beach is due to its status as a global tourist destination. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii is a global vacation spot that attracts nearly 10 million visitors each year. Notably, the island of OA, where the store is located, has a high population density, with over two-thirds of the population of Hawaii concentrated there.
Additionally, Waikiki is a tourist attraction featuring beautiful beach scenery along with shopping locations such as Ala Moana Center, the world's largest outdoor shopping mall, and upscale restaurants. Around 4 million tourists visit each year, generating approximately 42% of Hawaii's total tourism revenue.
The BBQ Waikiki store has an area of about 74 square meters (22 pyeong), featuring a cafe-style store with counter service specialized in takeout and delivery. It reflects the characteristics of its commercial district, where many takeout and delivery orders are made primarily by tourists staying at nearby hotels.
The signature menu item at the store is Golden Fried Chicken. In addition, customers can enjoy a variety of chicken menu items such as seasoned chicken, soy garlic, red chakhchakh, and chizzling, as well as side dishes like hamburgers, cheese balls, tteokbokki, and sausage on a stick.
A BBQ representative noted, "As a major vacation spot attracting people from all over the world, we will take this opportunity to showcase the excellent taste of Korean chicken, as well as the appeal of K-food globally."