Venture-backed cafe chain Blank Street opened its first Los Angeles location in Studio City on Aug. 12, marking its West Coast debut as part of a broader expansion for the $500 million valuation company.
The New York-based coffee chain, originally launched as a Brooklyn coffee cart in 2020 by former tech entrepreneurs Vinay Menda and Issam Freiha, has grown rapidly. Backed by private equity firms and investors including General Catalyst and Tiger Global alongside the founders of Allbirds and Warby Parker, the company has accumulated $67 million in backing and expanded to nearly 100 locations worldwide, according to reporting from the Los Angeles Times and Nation’s Restaurant News.
Studio City Debut and Automated Efficiency
The new cafe, situated at 13273 Ventura Blvd., drew immediate lines following its opening, with patrons often wrapping around the shop’s interior. While a Beverly Hills outpost is still forthcoming in a standalone Tudor Revival building on Bedford Drive, the Studio City launch gave West Coast customers their first taste of the brand’s signature menu. Among the offerings are matcha and espresso-based drinks such as the cookie butter-flavored Blondie latte, the cinnamon- and honey-forward Daydream latte, and shaken vanilla bean cold brews. The Studio City location also features an exclusive drink called the Cortado Cloud, which pairs a 4-ounce espresso or matcha base with Madagascan vanilla bean syrup in a sweet cream cloud, topped with vanilla bean powder.
Service speeds at the new outpost are driven by automatic espresso machines capable of producing eight shots at a time and up to 700 per hour. Customers utilizing the company’s mobile app can bypass ordering queues entirely to pick up their drinks directly at the counter.
“The line was long, and we got these drinks in, like, three minutes.”
Angela Guice, Studio City resident, via Los Angeles Times
Another patron, Nicolas Monroe, noted the speed while sharing mixed feelings about the corporate expansion. I prefer going to one-off locations, or if it’s a chain, a chain that’s local to L.A.,
Monroe said, while also acknowledging that the storefront had remained vacant for some time before the opening.
Design Inspiration and Forthcoming Ice Cream Menu
The interior design of the Studio City shop draws direct inspiration from midcentury Case Study houses, utilizing steel, glass, and wood. The brand’s signature green shade appears on booth textiles and terrazzo flooring that connects the interior to an outdoor patio, Yahoo! Finance Canada reported.
In addition to expanding its coffee and matcha footprint, the chain plans to introduce a line of frozen treats to Los Angeles later this year. Developed in partnership with Zen Ong—known for plant-based, Indonesian-inspired vegan ice cream at Awan in Los Angeles—the new ice cream menu will take flavor cues from popular beverage options.
- White Chocolate Matcha
- Vanilla Bean Affogato
- Mocha
- Strawberry Shortcake Matcha
These frozen treats pair a base of matcha, espresso, vanilla bean, or strawberry with an outer shell of chocolate, white chocolate, matcha, or espresso, finished with a garnish dusting.
Leadership Perspective on the California Launch
Reflecting on the company’s arrival on the West Coast, Issam Freiha emphasized the cultural fit of the neighborhood. The venture-backed chain has steadily grown its footprint beyond the East Coast, Boston, Washington, D.C., and the United Kingdom into Southern California.
“Studio City felt right for our California debut. Beyond the neighborhood’s charm and storied history, it has the creative spirit and strong sense of community that matters so much to us. There’s also something special about opening here with Evan [Mateen], one of our earliest team members, who grew up nearby. That personal connection makes this launch feel like a true homecoming for us.”
Issam Freiha, Co-Founder and CEO, via Yahoo! Finance Canada
Additional Los Angeles-area locations are slated to open in late fall at Sunset Plaza in West Hollywood and in Malibu.
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