New World Coffee opens new prototype store; Newly designed, 7-day residential store opens in Park Slope, Brooklyn

Business Wire, July 16, 1996

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 16, 1996--New World Coffee Inc. (NASDAQ:NWCI) today announced the opening of its newly designed, larger and more efficient prototype coffee bar operating extended hours, seven days a week, in the residential/shopping area of Park Slope in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The new store, which began operations on June 28, has 1900 square feet compared to an average of 600 square feet in the current stores. It features greatly expanded and more comfortable seating, including banquettes, and a warmer color scheme. Despite the new design and greater size, the construction costs were 40 percent less per foot than previous stores because of better material selection and purchasing.

The new service system, introduced in the store, utilizes multiple service registers and vertical food display, thereby doubling throughput capability and reducing transaction time. To improve street visibility, the store signage and logo has been redesigned and coffee-cherry red has been introduced as a primary color.

Ramin Kamfar, chief executive officer and president of New World, commented, "We're very excited about our new store because not only was it built for less than the budgeted cost, but its opening performance is already ahead of expectations, placing it into the top 15 percent of all New World stores and solidifying its position as the model for all our new stores."

"The prototype," according to Kamfar, "enhances New World Coffee's image as a neighborhood gathering place, and with more room and additional merchandise selection, should increase average store sales to $700,000 annually compared to $550,000 for existing seven-day stores."

New World's new prototype store is located at 125 Seventh Ave. (at Carroll Street) in Brooklyn. Another new store will be opening next week at 342 Madison Ave. in Manhattan.

New World Coffee Inc., the largest coffee bar company based in the Northeastern United States, currently owns and operates 30 espresso bars in the New York City, New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas and has six leases for upcoming locations.

CONTACT: New World Coffee Inc., New York

R. Ramin Kamfar, 212/343-0552, ext. 21

or

KCSA Public Relations, New York

Adam Friedman/Paul Holm, 212/682-6565, ext. 215/201