TikTok-famous La La Land Kind Café is coming to Charlotte
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La La Land in Nashville,. Photo: Courtesy of La La Land Kind Cafe
The viral La La Land Kind Café is coming to Charlotte, taking over the former Bitty & Beau's Coffee space in South End.
Why it matters: One mission-driven coffee shop is replacing another. Bitty & Beau's was known for employing people with developmental disabilities, and now La La Land, which hires and mentors foster youth, is stepping into that same space.
Driving the news: The Dallas-based coffee chain, known for its bold yellow cups, Instagram-worthy lattes and mission to "normalize kindness," has signed a lease for its first North Carolina cafe in the Design Center of the Carolinas, as first reported by CBJ and confirmed to Axios by Thrift Commercial Real Estate.
Catch up quick: La La Land has built both a cult following online and in real life.
- Founder Francois Reihani launched the brand in 2019 with the idea of a coffee shop centered on kindness.
- It's since grown to nearly 30 locations across Texas, California and Tennessee, with newer locations in Austin and Nashville.
- The brand has more than 6 million TikTok followers and a steady stream of celeb and brand collabs, from viral food critic Keith Lee to country artist Megan Maroney.
The intrigue: The brand has built its identity around the color yellow, from its distinct cups stamped with "Be Kind" to its yellow-soaked interiors.
- "Yellow means warmth. Yellow means kindness. Yellow means showing up with joy, even when the world feels heavy," the company says on its website.
- La La Land also makes a point to stay apolitical.
- It doesn't take political positions or support political causes, a deliberate choice, the brand says, to keep its spaces focused on unity and feel-good experiences.
What to expect: Dessert-leaning coffee, matchas and toasts.
- Signature drinks include the La La Latte (espresso or matcha, vanilla, milk) and colorful creations like lavender, strawberry and French toast lattes.
- Many come with a whipped "cloud top."
- Toasts are mostly avocado-based, including a truffle burrata and cream cheese avocado toast, plus fruit-topped options.
The bigger picture: La La Land describes itself as a mission-driven business, hiring and mentoring youth aging out of the foster care system.
Zoom out: The chain has attracted serious backing, including investors behind Erewhon, Vuori and On Running, which is fueling national expansion.
If you go: "Prepare for cheerful baristas, ego-boosting compliments and a 'cloud' topper that tastes like cold, sweet, thick nectar," Axios Dallas reporter Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi told Axios San Antonio when the brand opened there.
💭 My thought bubble: I've seen La La Land all over TikTok, but I didn't fully understand the hype until I walked past its South Congress location in Austin last weekend.
- It opened over a year ago, but the line on a Saturday morning easily topped 100 people. I passed on the wait, but I'm still eager to try a La La Latte when I can get one in town.
What's next: An opening date hasn't been announced. Axios has reached out to La La Land for more details.
Stop by: The cafe will open at 1930 Camden Road, next to Marine Layer.