About our Project KE

Our Awesome Story

Our store’s story started with two IT professionals who shared a passion for anime. They dreamt of creating a space where people could come together and enjoy their shared interests. After connecting with like-minded individuals, the team of five began planning in 2022.

They scouted various locations throughout different neighborhoods in New York City, searching for the perfect spot. Finally, they settled on Flushing, and the journey began.

Starting from scratch, the team worked tirelessly to bring their vision to life. From securing the location to designing the layout and sourcing merchandise, they poured their hearts into the project.

Despite the challenges and setbacks they faced, the team never lost sight of their goal. And finally, after months of hard work, the store was ready to open in June 2023.

Today, the store stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and teamwork. From humble beginnings to a thriving business, our store continues to be a place where anime enthusiasts can come together and share their love for the art form.

Our Goals

Project KE is dedicated to bringing customers an immersive and enjoyable anime experience. From our carefully curated selection of merchandise to our state-of-the-art arcade-style crane machines, we strive to create a space that caters to the needs and interests of anime fans.

Whether you’re looking for the latest anime figures or searching for a rare collector’s item, we have something for everyone. Our knowledgeable and passionate staff are always on hand to assist you with any questions or recommendations you may need.

In addition to our wide range of merchandise, we offer a variety of interactive activities and events throughout the year. From cosplay contests to anime movie screenings, there’s always something exciting happening at our store.

At our store, we’re committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive community for all anime fans. So whether you’re a seasoned collector or a newcomer to the world of anime, we invite you to come and discover all that we have to offer.

Our Fantastic Team

Kris

Founder

EDDY

Co-Founder

Qiang

Manager

Dai

Co-Manager

Qing

CFO

Lin

Investor

Testimonials

Diana Monteverdi

“The staff were SUPER friendly and helpful. The plushies are amazing quality and authentic from Japan as well!! There is a very big selection of plushies varying from anime, Sanrio, Pokémon (plushies and figurines) and more, so there is something for everyone!

Also, you have the option to exchange your plushies for even bigger ones or figurines! They also sell a ton of different blind boxes as well, so there is a lot of various things to do! It’s also very spacious, so you do not feel cramped at all and there is seating. I DEFINITELYYY recommend!!!”

Via Google reviews

Jenny T Tran

“The staff were so nice and friendly! They helped my friend who was struggling on one of the machines 😭 the environment was so welcoming and it was so aesthetically pleasing inside! would recommend if you wanna just come by to relax!”

Via Google Reviews

Katherine Reyes

“One of the best arcades in flushing! The staff are very friendly and helpful to help you win a plushie. The atmosphere is cool with all the different lighting and designs of the posters. The pricing is better than most arcades and they have high quality cute toys! The best part is the trade in system they have to win even bigger toys! Definitely check this place out if you love anime, pokemon and Sanrio!”

Via Google Reviews

Our Timeline

Opening our first physical store was a challenging journey, full of unexpected hurdles and setbacks. From navigating the complexities of construction and design, to sourcing inventory and building out our website and app, there were countless obstacles to overcome. However, we persevered through these challenges with a steadfast commitment to our vision, and a deep passion for anime and all things related to it. Now, as we look back on the journey, we are proud of all that we have accomplished and excited to continue bringing the best of anime culture to our community.

March 2022

Making this the first

Our team of two had an idea to start a business in the anime merchandise market. We began researching both physical stores and online retailers, seeking out potential suppliers and studying the operations of existing stores and websites in the industry.

April 2022

Project plan

After gaining knowledge of our industry and sourcing, we began to visit physical stores to gather inspiration and experience. We started to plan and strategize for our future projects.

May 2022

Project began

We finalized our project plan and started looking for like-minded partners to start the business together. Fortunately, our team grew with the addition of three members, and the project officially began.

June 2022

We scouted various locations for our store and reached out to many owners, taking their advice into consideration. We explored LIC, Manhattan, and Long Island while refining our business plan and deciding on the name of our project, Project KE.

November 2022

We finally found a suitable location for our store at 36-12 Main St, Flushing, NY 11354. We began designing the interior and starting the renovation process. At the same time, we started to develop our own hardware for the claw machines to ensure that they can be connected to the internet. We also started developing our own store app to enhance the customer experience.

June 2023

We finally completed the renovation of our store and had everything ready for our grand opening, including the installation of our custom-designed claw machines and other attractions. We were thrilled to welcome our first customers and to see our vision for a fun and unique anime-themed store come to life. Despite the challenges and setbacks along the way, we were proud of what we had accomplished and excited to see where our business would take us in the future.

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