Australian coffee and cafe brand Bluestone Lane has secured capital from RSE Ventures, a private investment firm that also owns David Chang’s Momofuku and Milk Bar.
Melbourne-born Nicholas Stone launched Bluestone Lane in New York in 2013, and has gone on to open 30 locations across New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia.
The capital will help expand Bluestone Lane’s presence, with plans to double its store numbers to 60 and continue to develop its consumer-packaged goods.
“This is a transformative investment for Bluestone Lane, and the partnership provides an incredible opportunity to build a global lifestyle and hospitality brand and grow our CPG business,” says Stone.
“We are humbled to be part of the RSE stable of brands and look forward to capitalising on their wealth of experience to bring our brand to the next level.”
Bluestone Lane has recently cemented a deal with US grocery store Whole Foods to distribute coffee and juice.
The cafe concepts mirror those found in Australia, with menus including avocado toast, grain bowls and flat whites. The venture also became an entirely cashless operation in 2016.
“Bluestone Lane is more than quality coffee with a side of Australian charm, it’s a lifestyle of human connection and wellness,” says Matt Higgins, RSE co-founder and CEO.
“You can’t find that combination elsewhere. The speed and efficiency with which Stone is scaling the business is truly incredible. He’s accelerating full-throttle, and that’s why Bluestone Lane is winning in the most competitive market for cafés in the U.S.”
