JUNBI TO OPEN FIRST HAWAII LOCATION AT ROYAL HAWAIIAN CENTER

Specialty shop bringing high-quality matcha tea to the masses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 24, 2021

Waikīkī – Prepare Daringly® for the newest addition to Royal Hawaiian Center’s tenant roster - Junbi Matcha & Tea. The California-based brand is bringing its modern, accessible take on matcha to Waikiki with its first Hawai‘i store. The 461-square-foot store is anticipated to open in Winter 2021.

“With its contemporary approach to a beloved cultural tradition, Junbi’s matcha-centric tea shop is a perfect fit at Royal Hawaiian Center,” said Marleen Akau, Vice President, General Manager of Royal Hawaiian Center. “Guests who are already familiar with Japanese matcha green tea will appreciate high-quality ingredients Junbi uses in its drinks, while new fans will discover tasty and unique recipes and flavor combinations.”

Established in 2017, Junbi is a leader in premium-quality matcha green tea founded by the same team from Shrimp Daddy, Chichi Dango and Wingchix. The four co-founders travel to their farms in Japan to personally oversee the whole process of Junbi’s matcha to ensure the highest of quality and integrity from their farm to the customer’s cup. Junbi offers an innovative matcha-centric menu including favorites like Strawberry Matcha and Yuzu Dragon Fruit Matcha.

The Hawai‘i franchise is headed by YouTube stars David So and Joe Jitsukawa, investors in Junbi, and Hawai“i-resident Greg Kobashigawa. The Royal Hawaiian Center location’s menu will include Hawai‘i exclusive flavors and combinations with produce sourced from local farmers.

“Hawai‘i was the natural next market for Junbi to enter with a culture and lifestyle that aligns well with our brand,” said So. “With a large and diverse Asian population, green tea has been beloved in the islands for generations and featured beyond drinks in everything from mochi and ice cream to cream puffs and cocktails. At Junbi Waikīkī, locals will find ingredients they’ve grown up with, as well as new drink preparations. For us, Royal Hawaiian Center and Junbi are a matcha made in heaven.”

Junbi Waikiki will be located in Building B, Level 1 near The Royal Grove.

About Junbi

Founded in 2017 with headquarters in Pasadena, Calif., Junbi is one of the nation’s fastest-growing franchised matcha green tea brands, with 3 locations in Los Angeles including a pop-up at Smorgasburg LA, 1 in New Jersey, 1 in Texas, 11 stores in development, and several more in the pipeline for 2021. For more information about Junbi, please email hello@junbishop.com and visit the company’s web site at www.junbishop.com and Instagram @junbimatcha.

About Royal Hawaiian Center

Royal Hawaiian Center is the premier shopping, dining, entertainment, and cultural destination in Waikīkī, comprised of 90 shops and restaurants over three city-blocks of world-renowned Kalākaua Avenue. The Center stands proudly upon historic land known as Helumoa, once home to Hawaiian royalty.

OWNERSHIP: Royal Hawaiian Center is owned by RHC Property Holdings LLC and managed by The Festival Companies.

For more information, visit www.RoyalHawaiianCenter.com or call Helumoa Hale Guest Services at 808-922-2299.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jocelyn Collado                                                                    
Becker Communications, Inc.                                                                         
(808) 392-5737
jocelyn@beckercommunications.com

Sam Shenkus
Royal Hawaiian Center
(808) 931-3110
s.shenkus@festivalcos.com