Seattle’s Best Coffee announced that its first Houston-area franchise opened for business in the lobby level of Williams Tower by the Galleria. The kiosk is the first of 10 Seattle’s Best Coffee franchise locations planned to be opened during the next five years by Hi Rise Amenities Inc., a Houston-based foodservice company. The 196-square-foot kiosk is a fully branded Seattle’s Best Coffee cafe serving the brand’s proprietary espresso beverages. It replaces an existing kiosk that served Seattle’s Best Coffee through a foodservice contract.

“Hi Rise Amenities was the first franchisee to sign with Seattle’s Best Coffee since we announced the expansion of our franchising program last February,” says Marie Gill, director of franchising for Seattle’s Best Coffee. “Their proven track record of success of operating multiple units and passion for our brand made them an ideal franchise partner.”

Hi Rise Amenities kiosks at One Allen Center, Three Allen Center, First City Tower, Fulbright Tower, and 600 Jefferson will become Seattle’s Best Coffee cafes and the company will also open a larger, flagship cafe, filling 1,100 square feet, in downtown’s Two Shell Plaza later this year.

“We are very excited to open for business and serve the local community under the Seattle’s Best Coffee brand,” says Amin Gheewalla, president of Hi Rise Amenities Inc. “Seattle’s Best Coffee franchising program is a perfect fit for our business, offering a talented team to partner with, strong brand awareness, a variety of retail solutions and, of course, great coffee.”