As a line of customers formed inside Mercer Island’s Kitanda, Luis Conde smiled and nodded his head toward owner João (John) Boff taking orders from behind the counter.
Conde, who is one of the company’s partners who helps with store expansions, was seated at a nearby table on the second day of local business for the Brazilian eatery that specializes in nutritional organic açaí berry bowls, high-quality coffee and its popular cheesy gluten-free bread snack (pão de queijo) made with tapioca flour.
While discussing Kitanda’s opening of its 13th location on Sept. 23, Conde said they’re blessed and excited to be serving Mercer Island customers. The newest Kitanda sits at 7695 SE 27th St. in the spot where Starbucks did business for many years.
“I love it here,” said native Brazilian Boff, adding that they have a three-year lease contract. “In these three years, we’re going to plan to find another place so we can move here. So, we’re here in Mercer Island probably to stay for a long time.”
During the Kitanda construction, Conde said that people were knocking on the doors to find out about what was coming to town. They were thrilled to learn that Kitanda would soon set up shop on the corner of Southeast 27th Street and 77th Avenue Southeast and begin “giving the customers a taste of the vibrant culture of Brazil,” according to its web site.
“Kitanda, the name of the company, means corner store. So we came in, we saw, you know, corner store — everything to do with us. We liked the seating area, we liked the patio, so a lot of things resonated well,” said Conde, who originally hails from Portugal.
In 1998, founder Boff launched his business journey with a Brazilian Sendex corner store in Seattle and opened his first Kitanda shop about 20 years ago in Kirkland. He now has four Kitandas in Seattle, one each in Kirkland, Lynnwood, Tukwila, Shoreline, Redmond, Mercer Island and Oregon and two in Florida.
“(The Kirkland) store was created to serve the Brazilian community. And then he realized a lot of the things he was doing resonated with American consumers as well, and then it started expanding,” Conde said. “We’re here, to be honest, to serve the entire community. So being as active as the community needs us. We want to make sure we’re part of the local community.”
Conde has a Mercer Island connection as his girlfriend’s family was born and raised here and her sister still resides locally. He was told that Islanders are very loyal to local commerce and he feels Kitanda offers a unique, good-quality menu — which also features pastries and much more — for diners.
He said that Kitanda’s açaí bowls will fit in well on Mercer Island with people taking care of themselves at local exercise spots and eating healthy as well.
“The high school kids, too. They go and play football at three, four o’clock, and then come in at five, six o’clock to eat a big bowl of açaí,” said Conde, noting that açaí berries are sourced from the Brazilian rain forest.
Mercer Island commercial real estate broker Billy Poll of NAI Puget Sound Properties helped Kitanda secure its latest location.
“I think there’s a strong market for them on Mercer Island and people coming from both Seattle and Eastside to congregate on Mercer Island. Plus they’ve done a really nice job at kind of perfecting their formula for their coffee shops, and I think it’ll be a comfortable place for people to hang out,” said Poll, who praised the items that dot Kitanda’s menu.
