Pinoy pride: Jollibee opens its flagship store in Times Square, New York
Jollibee has opened its first store right in the heart of the major tourist hub of Times Square in New York City.
The fast food chain's Times Square branch is located in Broadway Plaza between 43rd/44th Street, between the buildings of Good Morning America and in the Bowtie. It is also in view of where the New Year's Ball Drop takes place every year.
A number of digital billboards surround the new branch, making for an attractive place for tourists and New York citizens alike.
During the branch's official opening day on August 18, the famous bee mascot was seen holding up a sign of its debut surrounded by Jollibee North America representatives, service crew, and the Philippine Consul General in New York, Elmer Cato.
Cato also shared more photos of the opening day and chronicled his experience with Jollibee branches in the USA over the years.
He said that he was first assigned to Jollibee's first store in New York over a decade ago, and he had been traveling all the way to Jollibee branches to get his fill since.
"Now that I am assigned to the Philippine Consulate General in New York, I no longer have to take the subway, drive or fly to have what has just been adjudged as the best fried chicken in America," Cato enthused. Chickenjoy was recently dubbed as the ‘best fried chicken in America’ by global food website, Eater.
"All I have to do is walk a few blocks to Times Square where Jollibee’s flagship store will be opening its doors to the public tomorrow."
In celebration of Jollibee's Times Square debut, Cato also shared the insights of reporters who tried out the Chickenjoy on air.
FOX 5 New York also covered Jollibee Time Square's opening day, where flocks of people were already lining up.
"I can tell you, it is really really outstanding," said FOX 5 reporter Christal Young. "Crispy, juicy, just the right amount of flavor."
The first Jollibee store in the USA opened back in 1998 at Daly City in California. It has since opened 84 branches in North America and over 1,500 restaurants worldwide.
