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Hanging out with Francisco from COMOBÅ
Hanging out with Francisco Amaral,
The founder of COMOBÅ.
We caught up with Francisco, owner of Comobå, a food.coffee.matcha.bar close to the +351 flagship store, where the team likes to hang out and where the employees wear their +351 t-shirts with pride. On a sunny Lisbon morning, alongside a matcha latte, Francisco told us why he started it all, where he got inspired, and where he hopes to see his brand grow.
Can you tell us your story and why you started COMOBÅ?
COMOBÅ is not my main activity. I'm a lawyer, but due to personal circumstances, I realized at a certain point that I could do something different from what I was doing as a lawyer. Practicing law didn't fulfill me, and it forced me to travel a lot. I found that, on an emotional level, it didn't bring me much satisfaction, and I knew I wanted to do something parallel. At the time, I didn't know what, but on a trip to New York alone, I came away wanting to create something related to a cafe, specifically with matcha. I wanted to bring the product and experience to Lisbon and develop a project that would allow me to bring people together and give me what I was looking for: a space that would create a community and bring people together with similar interests.
Initially, my idea was more about matcha on a smaller scale, but it ended up making perfect sense to include a restaurant and breakfast component. This was important to me, as I'm a morning person. I love mornings, and in Lisbon at that time, there weren't many options open early. I also kept seeing many people with suitcases in the morning, waiting for the bakeries to open. It made sense. The project evolved more based on the space and location. It was a set of circumstances and the result of the energy of the people I was surrounded by at the time. That's when I created the Comobå brand. I opened this place because I felt the need to have something in Lisbon that reflected my image and aesthetic and felt like a place away from home, too.
What are the next steps?
We don't necessarily have an expansion plan because I don't really believe in replicating things. Within the same philosophy, I want to take into account our values and principles and explore other possibilities, like taking the brand to other locations but in a different format, always in tune with the environment and the region. Whether in Portugal, Lisbon, near our main store, or abroad, we'll stay true to our core values. In quotation marks, our idea of expansion, and what we talk about daily, is the prospect of expanding abroad. Our short-term goal is undoubtedly to expand outside Portugal.
There is a different scale out there, and there is a risk of saturation or not innovating as effectively if we start expanding here. I also believe that brands should maintain and protect their community because there are people who really enjoy the experience of being in our space—it gives them a sense of relaxation, of being in a bubble. So, it doesn't make sense to create too many bubbles. I love our community, and I want to preserve it. Like in life, when you find a place you like and enjoy, you wish it was close to home. Opening elsewhere is an interesting exercise we can carry out. Bit of a disclosure, but we'll soon be opening in a new location in Europe, and we're looking forward to sharing more details about it.
Best spot in Portugal?
I have three oases in Portugal. Spots that aren't necessarily a refuge but that change your way of being. Starting in the south, the Sagres area has that quality; it gives me that desire. I have a special affection for Sesimbra because I grew up there, I spent many of my vacations there on a boat. I have a very close connection to the sea. And a little closer, the Sintra, Adraga, Almoçageme area, etc. It's not a recent discovery, but recently it's been taking over, due to its proximity and ease, it's become an escape. In general, they are always on the coast, always connected to the sea. If we look around us, I'd say that the Comobå has everything to do with the sea. I always make this association. I think the sea has the virtue of being minimal, and we can't make any significant interventions or change the ocean. The calmness of the sea comes from the fact that it's minimal, and that's something I respect. Like the sea, Comobå is a blank canvas that ends up being filled with people with experiences that come and go. It's a blank canvas on land.
What does style means to you?
The question of style has been present in my life since I was young. It's a natural exercise for me to reflect on style, observe people and places, and understand the context and logic behind these spaces and individuals. Details and unique characteristics define brands, and, for me, they give a brand style and originality.
What is the band / music artist that inspires you?
I love music, and ever since I got an iPhone, I've kept an annual list of the songs I listen to. These songs ended up being the soundtrack of my year, defining my style and mood. Fortunately, I'm influenced by my 14-year-old daughter's mix of tastes. It ranges from Jungle to Mac Demarco, Slowdive, Billie Holiday, and Kanye West. But at the moment, I'm immersed in French music.
As fellow Cais do Sodré neighbours, what do you think of changes the street is undergoing?
Over the next few years, this street will undergo significant changes due to the opening of several hotels. We will see an increase in activity during the day, driven by the migration of offices to this area and, thirdly, the opening of the metro. Combining these three factors will bring a new dynamism to the area, which previously had a more nocturnal reputation. I think that alignment or evolution will be necessary to preserve the essence of what this street has represented over the last six years, including the possible opening of more stores, retail businesses, and even services.nce I got an iPhone, I've kept an annual list of the songs I listen to. These songs ended up being the soundtrack of my year, defining my style and mood. Fortunately, I'm influenced by my 14-year-old daughter's mix of tastes. It ranges from Jungle to Mac Demarco, Slowdive, Billie Holiday, and Kanye West. But at the moment, I'm immersed in French music.
Photography by +351.
