Coreanos Owner Alex Kim Brews Up Kima Cafe In Somerville's Union Square

A new coffee shop with a Korean-inspired menu is set to open in Somerville's Union Square this fall, taking over the longtime home of Fortissimo Coffeehouse at 75 Bow Street. The concept, called Kima Cafe, comes from Alex Kim, the restaurateur behind Coreanos Allston and Glasser Coffee Co., and is targeting a mid-September opening.

News of the café's location first surfaced in local restaurant coverage on August 11, following public legal notices relayed by City Living Boston, according to Boston Restaurant Talk. Kim told WhatNow that Kima Cafe will open near Union Square and will feature a Korean and Asian-inspired menu, though specific dishes have not yet been announced. The café also does not appear to have an online presence yet, per the same report.

The building itself carries some neighborhood history. Wanderlog notes that 75 Bow Street was previously home to Fortissimo Coffeehouse, a spot known for organic teas, coffee served in ceramic mugs, smoothies, paninis, and Brazilian pão de queijo. Kima Cafe is now seeking experienced third-wave specialty baristas ahead of its opening, with applicants directed to send resumes to the café's hiring contact, per WhatNow's reporting.

A Formal Path Through City Hall

The move toward opening wasn't just a social media announcement. The Somerville Licensing Commission scheduled a public hearing for June 16 to consider an application from Glasser Coffee LLC, doing business as Kima Cafe, for Common Victualer and Entertainment by Devices licenses at the Bow Street address, according to The Somerville Times. That filing formally confirmed Kim's business entity and the specific city approvals needed before Kima Cafe can open its doors.

Kim is not new to Boston-area food and beverage ventures. He founded Glasser Coffee Co. in Brighton, receiving municipal approval in October 2020 to operate at 589 Washington Street in Oak Square, according to Boston.gov records. That café built a following for specialty drinks including rose matcha lattes and Vietnamese cold brew, alongside espresso drinks, teas, breakfast sandwiches, bowls, and tacos.

From Bulgogi Tacos to Third-Wave Espresso

Kim's culinary reputation in Boston predates his coffee ventures. He co-owns Coreanos Allston with his family, a Korean-Mexican fusion spot at 172 Brighton Avenue that Hoodline ranked among Boston's top Korean spots back in 2019, when it held a 4.5-star Yelp rating across more than 350 reviews for dishes like kimchi fried rice and bulgogi tacos. Kim also opened a food truck as part of his path into the restaurant business, according to WhatNow's reporting.

Kim's food philosophy traces back further still. In a March 2024 feature on Boston's Korean dining scene, Kim cited traditional kimchi-jjigae stew and kimbap dipped in tteokbokki sauce as quintessential Korean comfort foods that inform how he approaches food, according to The Food Lens. That heritage appears likely to shape whatever Kima Cafe eventually puts on its menu, even as specifics remain unannounced.

Union Square's Café Boom Keeps Growing

Kima Cafe's arrival fits into a broader wave remaking Union Square. The neighborhood has seen a string of indie café and artisan food launches in 2026, including Wildgrain Bakehouse at 29R Properzi Way and Nostalgia Vintage Café at 322 Somerville Ave, both of which Hoodline covered as part of the square's evolving food scene. Much of that momentum traces back to the MBTA's Green Line Extension, which opened a Union Square station in March 2022 and pushed the share of Somerville residents within walking distance of a T stop from roughly 20 percent to an estimated 80 percent.

The timing also lines up with a national shift in coffee culture. Korean and East Asian influences, including drinks like the Korean Einspänner, dalgona coffee, and black sesame lattes, have become major beverage trends across U.S. coffee shops, according to Nation's Restaurant News. That trend is playing out against a fast-growing global backdrop: the third-wave specialty coffee market was valued at $12 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach $30 billion by 2033, according to HTF Market Intelligence.

For now, Kima Cafe's opening remains penciled in for mid-September, with hiring underway and the menu still under wraps. Whether it leans further into Korean comfort food staples or specialty coffee innovation, the café adds another name to Union Square's rapidly filling roster of boutique bakeries, hybrid cafes, and specialty dining spots.