Maybe you remember (or are still trying to forget) doing the Hokey Pokey at a distant cousin’s wedding or at your local roller skating rink… But this Hoke Poke may sound the same, but thankfully, is much different. Offering a fast-casual restaurant that brings a fresh take to the iconic Hawaiian dish poke, Hoke Poke infuses Japanese flavors and a healthy California lifestyle. Currently there are two locations in Downtown LA and Valencia; team Hoke Poke has synced with NextSeed to raise $150K to open its third spot, located in North Hollywood.
The capital raised will be allocated to the construction and build-out of the 5077 Lankershim Boulevard space. North Hollywood (NoHo) is a trendy, up-and-coming neighborhood that has been transformed in the last decade. There is more residential density in NoHo than any neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley, and Hoke Poke sits right at the center of the NoHo Arts District. The new Hoke Poke will be located on the ground floor inside a new development housing 156 luxury residential units, along with other vendors such as Starbucks, Firehouse Subs, Massage Envy and Club Pilates, and across from the future home of Wholefoods 365.
Additional funds will be allocated to marketing and working capital required for operations. To date, over $58,700 has been raised from 0ver 69 investors. Hoke Poke is also offering some yummy Early Bird investor incentives, including gift certificates, tickets to the launch party, cooking classes and a private VIP Hoke+Sake party for 20.
What is poke? Poke bowls consist of fresh fish on top of rice, kale or quinoa, served with vegetables and spices and topped with a variety of sauces. Hoke Poke promises the result to be “delicious, healthy, crave-able, affordable, and completely customizable meal.”
[clickToTweet tweet=”Doing the Hoke Poke: Daniel Acuna, Darin Barton, Brandon Hance & Michael Pakravan link with @thenextseed ” quote=”Doing the Hoke Poke: Founders Daniel Acuna, Darin Barton, Brandon Hance & Michael Pakravan share a ‘serious love for poke'”]
Created by four Angeleno friends — Daniel Acuna, Darin Barton, Brandon Hance and Michael Pakravan — who share “a serious love for poke,” Hoke Poke serves fresh and sustainable sushi-grade fish, locally sourced produce and other quality ingredients. The team curates creative combinations for its poke bowls. The menu has been designed in collaboration with Chef Lauren Haas, Certified Nutrition Practitioner who splits her time between Kuia and Beverly Hills. Customers have the option to either select from the signature Chef’s Choice bowls or to “Do the Hoke Poke” and build a custom bowl from scratch.
[clickToTweet tweet=”.@thenextseed features Chic and Delicious LA-Based #HokePoke” quote=”Hoke Poke is not being created with only a single location in mind….”]
The menu for Hoke Poke identifies new trends and offerings in order to further strengthen the brand. Items such as a new sushi burrito, mochi ice cream, and milk teas have been introduced with tremendous customer response. Developing a well-rounded menu is a highlight of Hoke Poke’s value, but it’s only one example of the team’s process. Hoke Poke is not being created with only a single location in mind. The business is being constructed as a scalable venture, and the team’s attention to detail, operations and branding showcases this approach.
In addition to its relationship with Hoke Poke’s chef, the team has also built a number of strategic relationships with STUDIOUNLTD Design (Bestia, Food+Lab), Williamson Construction (Robeks, Jersey Mike’s, SweetFin), and Gary Wang Architecture (Jersey Mike’s Panda Express, Waba Grill). This group of experienced agencies and partners lends a level of expertise to Hoke Poke’s execution that is difficult for competitors to replicate.
For more detailed information about Hoke Poke and the team’s NextSeed RegCF campaign, click here. 28 days remain on the campaign.
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