November 22, 2024

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Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, who currently heads Los Angeles-based shared service provider City Storage Systems, will enter South Korea with Cloud Kitchens next month, according to industry sources on March 18.

The shared kitchen service offers cooking facilities and space for anyone who wants to start a food business but do not have enough assets to open their own restaurant. The first facility will open in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, in April. This will be City Storage Systems’ first Cloud Kitchens outside of the US. 

Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick

Because the facilities do not have a dining space -- all food items cooked there must be sold through delivery services -- City Storage is expected to team up with local delivery firm FoodFly.

In October last year, City Storage Systems held an event among potential users here to introduce the business, hinting at a launch this year. According to the sources, the company plans to open its second store here at Coex in southern Seoul during the first half of this year.

Around 20 clients have reportedly decided to sign up for the US company’s first and second stores. Cloud Kitchens users have to sign a one-year contract and pay some deposit in advance. The monthly rent is expected to be around 2 million won ($17,620) to 3 million won.

By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com)