CHELSEA — Pepsi is opening a flagship bar and restaurant on West 15th Street that the soda giant hopes will be the joy of the neighborhood.
Pepsi plans to open its first U.S.-based restaurant at 408 W. 15th St., between Ninth and Tenth avenues, this spring, the company said in a release.
Kola House, an “experimental kola bar, restaurant, lounge and event space,” will pay homage to the caffeinated kola nut and serve as Pepsi’s flagship location, the company said.
The company plans to open several pop-up locations — including one in San Francisco during the Super Bowl — serving dishes like kola sliders, beef tartare with caviar, and “kola truffle aioli,” the New York Times reported.
“We wanted to create a modern hub for consumers to share social and immersive experiences that were anchored in the exploration of our cola’s artisanal craft and flavor,” said Seth Kaufman, PepsiCo’s North America chief marketing operator, in a statement.
Pepsi has yet to reveal a menu for Kola House, but said it will offer cocktails and culinary dishes “inspired by the kola nut.”
Along with serving food, the Chelsea venue will host live entertainment and popular artists, although Pepsi did not specify who would perform.
Although Pepsi, its logo and its ads are among the most ubiquitous in history, Kaufman and Pepsi head of design Mauro Porcini told the Times that references to the brand and its well-known logo would be “subtle" at the venue.
“Consumers will love your brand because your brand enables you to have the experience, but they don’t want to have the brand in their face,” Porcini told the paper.
