Entrepreneurs See Juicy Opportunities With Caffe Sorrentino

Edmonton Journal:

The gushing sound of an espresso being poured at an Edmonton cafe may reverberate around the world.

Rick Botelho and Dion Kunellis stopped at Caffe Sorrentino on 109th Street one day. And began dreaming.

‘We loved the easygoing, modern Italian feel to the place, and the coffee was excellent,’ says Botelho.

He was developing franchises for a juice company in both North America and abroad, and Kunellis had owned several juice franchises in Ottawa.

‘We immediately saw a potential in franchising Caffe Sorrentino,’ says Kunellis.

Sorrentino’s owner Carmelo Rago, who has 14 restaurants, was enthusiastic about the idea.

‘Our head office is on 109th Street and 107th Avenue and I’d originally created the Caffe so I could have a coffee any time with friends,’ he says.

The trio’s first joint venture opened recently in the basement of Edmonton Centre (under Winners) and has already attracted a following. Continue reading…