"Sorry, We're Closing"... Orders Surge Thanks to Jensen Huang, But Why the Temporary Shutdown Notice?

Temporary Weekend Closure Due to Surge in Takeout and Delivery Orders
Delivery App Search Rankings Also Soar

The first store of the domestic chicken franchise "Kanbu Chicken" has temporarily closed due to an unexpected surge in orders over the weekend. This spike in attention to the brand followed the recent "Kanbu gathering" attended by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee, and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung.

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, is making a love shot during a chicken gathering with Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Group, and Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, at Kanbu Chicken near Samseong Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the evening of the 30th of last month.

The first store, located in Seongbok-dong, Suji-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, will remain closed for two days on the 1st and 2nd. The store announced, "We have decided to temporarily close over the weekend to provide smooth service due to more orders than expected," adding, "We apologize for any inconvenience and will strive to repay you with better quality and service."

The recent gathering took place on the evening of the 30th of last month at the Samsung branch in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in the form of a "chimaek" (chicken and beer) meeting. The three business leaders visited the store in casual attire, and it is reported that CEO Huang personally chose the location. After the meeting, they distributed chicken to citizens, displaying a friendly demeanor that drew significant public attention. Some citizens waited until the evening to visit the store, and thanks to the approachable attitude of the CEO and executives, they had an enjoyable experience.

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, is eating chicken at Kanbu Chicken near Samsung Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul last month during a meeting with Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Group, and Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group.

Interest in Kanbu Chicken skyrocketed immediately after the gathering. It ranked high in delivery app search results, and some stores had to temporarily suspend delivery services because they could not keep up with the influx of orders. One franchise owner said, "With so many dine-in and takeout customers, it was impossible to handle deliveries as well."

Kanbu Chicken began in 2006 as a small 13-square-meter (about 4-pyeong) rotisserie chicken shop in Suji-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The brand name "Kanbu" is inspired by a Korean slang term that refers to the friendship among childhood playmates.

With its "chicken cafe" concept, where customers can enjoy chicken and beer together, Kanbu Chicken gained popularity among customers in their 20s and 30s in the mid-2010s, leading to sales growth. However, as the market shifted toward delivery and due to the impact of COVID-19, sales declined, and the number of franchise stores dropped from a peak of 214 to 162 as of last year.

Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee (left), Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung are taking a commemorative photo after finishing a "chimaek" gathering at a chicken restaurant in Samseong-dong, Seoul, on the evening of the 30th of last month.

However, Kanbu Chicken gained unexpected global recognition in 2021 when the line "We are kanbu, aren't we?" from the Netflix drama Squid Game became a sensation. It is analyzed that CEO Huang's choice of the store for this gathering was not just a casual visit, but also an effort to highlight the brand identity symbolizing cooperation and friendliness.