Salvador's History Page , The Salvador’s concept was born in 2003. Kris Ariel and Colin Flahive worked out many of the company’s ideas and recipes while living in Dali, a town approximately 300 kilometers to the west of Kunming. The Salvador’s model included premium coffee, homemade natural ice cream, fresh bagels, a funky décor, a cozy atmosphere, and other characteristics still evident in the Kunming locations. Kris came up with the name Salvador’s in a clever dual play on words. Being that Salvador Dali was one of his artistic idols, and both Kris and Colin were at the time living in Dali, it seemed like the perfect match. Salvador Dali’s moustache can still be seen hanging on the wall along with a small selection of his works.

The Salvador’s concept was born in 2003. Kris Ariel and Colin Flahive worked out many of the company’s ideas and recipes while living in Dali, a town approximately 300 kilometers to the west of Kunming. The Salvador’s model included premium coffee, homemade natural ice cream, fresh bagels, a funky décor, a cozy atmosphere, and other characteristics still evident in the Kunming locations. Kris came up with the name Salvador’s in a clever dual play on words. Being that Salvador Dali was one of his artistic idols, and both Kris and Colin were at the time living in Dali, it seemed like the perfect match. Salvador Dali’s moustache can still be seen hanging on the wall along with a small selection of his works.

In June of 2004, Kris and Colin teamed up with good friends Naoko Okano and Josh Pollock. Together, the four rented an 87 square-meter storefront situated in the aptly named Wenhua Xiang, “Culture Alley,” a small road teeming with students from Yunnan University and foreigners from all walks of life. Over the next two months, the four remodeled the formerly unsuccessful Korean restaurant into a Coffee House unlike any on the planet. After an arduous journey through mountains of paperwork necessary to register a wholly foreign owned enterprise in China, Salvador's was validated on September 24^th as Kunming Salvador's Food and Beverage Company Limited.

Kunming Salvador's Food and Beverage Co Ltd

The Coffee House rapidly gained notoriety among locals and non-locals alike. Talk of Salvador’s spread to places like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou; and it wasn’t long before visitors made Salvador’s their first stop in Kunming. Over the course of the following year, Salvador’s took its menu and restaurant décor to new levels. Thanks to the hard work and devotion of the 13 Salvador’s employees (6 of which are from the original crew trained in Dali) Salvador’s Coffee House continues to be a warm and friendly spot where customers can always rely on quality food and service. Many thanks are due to the Salvador’s education program, which provides native English-speaking private tutors to all employees; and to the constant feedback from friends and customers alike.

Naoko, Josh, Kris and Colin continue to do their best to make sure Salvador’s remains a bastion in Kunming. In May of 2005, the company branched out to the western part of the city, offering its gourmet coffee and ice cream to a different population in Kunming. The new location’s success is evident of Salvador’s bright future. We hope to make our products increasingly available in China. And thank you for your support.

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