The Nation's First HipHopSodaShop Slated to Open Tomorrow on December 18 in Tampa, FL
Monday December 17, 10:55 am ET
World Renowned Hip-Hop Icon Doug E. Fresh To Perform
Hip Hop Mogul Andre Harrell to Host the Evening
Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and others in Harlem's Dipset, JT Money, Pretty Ricky, Abebe Lewis of Miami's Circle House Studios, Syndicated Radio Host from Phoenix, Jerome Carter, Among the Featured Hip-Hop Guests
NEW YORK, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- H3 Enterprises, Inc. (Pink Sheets: HTRE - News), the world's first publicly traded Hip-Hop company, announced today that it will be launching the nation's first HipHopSodaShop in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday December 18, 2007. The HipHopSodaShop franchise is the backbone of the H3 related businesses and encapsulates not only the numerous revenue streams that the company has developed, but also embodies the "community conscious" approach that H3 applies to all of its endeavors.
Dr. Benjamin Chavis, CEO and President, stated, "Tomorrow we are making Hip-Hop history. At the same time, December the 18th will mark the beginning of a new business franchise that will blend the worlds of Hip-Hip and Wall Street. We are about community economic development and the HipHopSodaShop represents the best of the positive attributes of Hip-Hop culture that will provide an entrepreneurial strategy to help our communities overcome poverty. Most record companies and leading artists 'drop' albums on a Tuesday. This Tuesday, H3 Enterprises is 'dropping' the HipHopSodaShop concept for the whole wide world to enjoy."
Keith Chutlian, Chairman of the Board, commenting on the historic grand opening tomorrow, stated, "H3 is the only business I've seen that blends culture, profit, and charity by bringing financial empowerment and giving back to H3 communities both on the ground and on the internet. We're creating a real and virtual way to focus the best of hip hop culture into an artistic, interactive, and rewarding experience. Our scalable model encompasses various sectors such as restaurants, entertainment, and technology in the U.S. and abroad to generate phenomenal growth."
The HipHopSodaShop comes complete with a healthy quick service menu, merchandising, a state of the art recording studio, 30 giant LCD screens, the latest Xbox 360 live video games, and a large area dedicated to competitive on-line video gaming. The first HipHopSodaShop is over 11,000 sq ft and is a modern day cultural arts center where many forms of Hip-Hop can be expressed by patrons and embraced by the community.
It's a recipe for success: combine popular music with healthful dining options and flavor with socially-responsible capitalism. The eclectic menu includes limited fried foods and no monounsaturated or polyunsaturated (trans) fats. The shop will feature "rap" sandwiches with few carbohydrates and a beverage line made with antioxidant-rich white tea and sweetened with chicory syrup instead of sugar. Clever monikers, sprinkled throughout the menu, are geared to strike a chord with diners while encouraging financial literacy.
The venue, which is less than a mile from the University of South Florida which has over 40,000 students, is located at 1241 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida. The 11,000-square-foot space has undergone renovations to become a full-service, conceptually-chic restaurant. It is equipped with a recording studio, multiple 4'x 5' video screens, tableside video-gaming apparatuses and a DJ/MC booth with surround sound. Targeted to a youthful demographic, aged 13-35, the restaurant will hold special events like open mic nights, live HD sportscasts, live outdoor concerts and cyber gaming. The store will also carry clothing, MP3 players and recorded music.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
7:00am Live Radio interview with Dr. Benjamin Chavis on WCBS
WILD 98.7
Dr. Benjamin Chavis speaks about the Grand Opening of
the HipHopSodaShop.
*** WCBS Wild 98.7 will be broadcasting live all day
from the HipHopSodaShop***
12:00pm Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Local officials and dignitaries will participate in this
special event to mark the Grand Opening of the first
HipHopSodaShop.
4:00pm Every One's Youth United Marching Band, St Petersburg, FL
A special performance by a group of talented, local young
musicians.
5:00pm Red Carpet Ceremony
With various hip-hop celebrities and artists.
6:00pm until ... Special Performance by Doug E. Fresh
Dubbed the "World's Greatest Entertainer" for his
unrivaled ability to rock a crowd, Harlem and the
originator of the human beat box, Doug E. Fresh is best
known for the two-sided, multi-platinum hits "The Show"
and "La Di Da Di." Fresh has embraced hip-hop activism
and used his voice to speak out against a variety of
social ills.
Hosted by Andre Harrell
Former president of Motown Records and founder of Uptown
Records, this multi-talented music and entertainment
entrepreneur has established a reputation in the industry
as one of the most astute, progressive and creative
executives in the business. As a music and film producer,
Harrell has helped launch the careers of such acclaimed
artists as Jessica Alba, Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige,
Jodeci, Heavy D and the Boyz, 98 Degrees and mentored
Sean "Puffy" Combs.
All Day Celebration Tent
Complimentary food samples and soda fountain items from
the HipHopSodaShop menu will be provided to the general
public. A tent will be provided for outdoor viewing of
all performances, with first-come first-served access as
well as video screens both inside and outside the tent
that will provide live screening of all performances.
There will also be limited complimentary access to video
gaming and a variety of HipHopSodaShop exclusive
merchandise will be available for purchase.
Celebrities!
Hip-Hop superstars including Jim Jones, Juelz Santana,
and Max B from Harlem's legendary Dipset, along with a
host of Southern rap stars will be in attendance to show
their solidarity with H3, Dr. Ben. and the
HipHopSodaShops. MTV Real World stars Shauvon Torres,
Isaac Stout and Johanna Botta will also be attending. The
entire Celebrity List will be announced in full on
Monday.
All activities are open to the General Public on a first-come,
first-served basis
Directions: Phone:
1241 E. Fowler Ave. (813) 977-1200
Tampa, FL 33612
(1/8 of a mile east of Interstate 275 at the Fowler Ave exit and 3/4 of a mile west of the University of South Florida)
Press Availability:
Please contact The T.A.S.C. Group(see above) regarding issuance of press passes and to schedule interviews with the leadership of the HipHopSodaShop and the participating Hip-Hop celebrities.
About H3 Enterprises, Inc. and the HipHopSodaShop:
H3 Enterprises, Inc. is the parent company of the HipHopSodaShop, with its corporate headquarters located at 116, John Street, New York, NY 10036. As the first publicly traded Hip-Hop company, H3 Enterprises, Inc. is dedicated to the mission of empowering young people through investment, education and economic development.
