BBQ "Last Year Hawaii Sales 2 Billion KRW... Expected to Double This Year"

Customers are waiting for their ordered menu items at the BBQ Hawaii Kuono Mall branch. Photo by BBQ

Genesis BBQ announced on the 3rd that the combined sales of its Kuono Mall and Aiea locations in Hawaii exceeded 2 billion KRW last year.

The average monthly sales of the Kuono Mall and Aiea locations exceed 260 million KRW (210,000 USD) in total. According to BBQ, with the increase in tourists to Hawaii after the COVID-19 pandemic, the first store, Kuono Mall, has been consistently performing well, and the Aiea location, which opened last year, is also showing continuous sales growth. BBQ expects that if this upward trend continues, total sales this year will exceed 4 billion KRW.

In November 2021, BBQ opened the Kuono Mall location in the Kahala area of Honolulu, where world-class billionaires' villas and the luxury Kahala Hotel are located. One year later, in November last year, the second store, Aiea, was opened in the Aiea area, home to Pearlridge Center, the largest indoor shopping mall in Hawaii.

Both stores are characterized by their locations in areas with high foot traffic. Looking at orders from tourists and local residents, BBQ's signature menu item, "Hwanggeum Olive Chicken," accounts for the largest share, followed by menu items such as "Original Seasoned Chicken" and "Honey Garlic."

Meanwhile, in June last year, BBQ ranked 2nd in the "Top 25 Fastest Growing Restaurant Brands in the U.S." announced by the global dining industry magazine Nations Restaurant News, making it the only domestic franchise to be listed among overseas expansions.