Pao Pao Cafe

Pao Pao Cafe (alternative spelling Café) is a fictional bar and night club in SNK's fictional gaming universe. Founded and managed by Richard Meyer, who also works as a bartender, Pao Pao Cafe is based on South Town, but there is at least one branch in Mexico. A second Pao Pao Café was opened by the time of Fatal Fury 3. Pao Pao Cafe is a prominent location in SNK's gaming universe, and is famous among fighters due to hosting live fights night after night.

Story and Description
Founded by capoeira master Richard Meyer, the Pao Pao Café had a humble start. Since the beginning, the place was aimed at attracting fighters and non-fighters alike. The theme of the place was based on asian culture, mainly Chinese. Dragon statues could be seen all over the place, and Chinese-style architecture was used for designing the walls, stairs and columns. The dragon statues were, for a time, a staple aspect of several iterations of the café. Contrasting with the layout, a roda de capoeira is seen playing typical Brazilian instruments, such as the berimbau, the pandeiro and other percussion instruments. Even though by the time of Fatal Fury, the Pao Pao Cafe had just opened, Richard had enough money to have the cafe have lots of space. He also had some steel bars fixed to the ceiling, on where he could hang himself up for tactical advantage during his fights.



Richard entered the King of Fighters tournament hosted by Geese Howard in Fatal Fury and chose the Pao Pao Cafe as the fighting arena where he would receive his opponents. Richard entered the tournament in order to create publicity around Pao Pao Cafe, a deed which was accomplished, even though Richard lost to one of the Lonely Wolves (Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard or Joe Higashi). By the end of Fatal Fury, the Pao Pao Café began to prosper, with fighters and fighting-aficionados becoming regular attendants in the night club. A testimony of such growth is seen in Fatal Fury 2, on which all the fights of the global King of Fighters tournament were shown in a TV screen for a crowded Pao Pao Cafe. Due to such prolific business, Richard had the money to open a second Pao Pao Cafe in South Town, and another branch in Mexico. During the grand opening of Pao Pao Café 2, with his Capoeira student, Bob Wilson, acting as the manager, the place was wrecked by the Jin twins, Chonshu and Chonrei. As Bob went after the Jin twins for what they had done, Richard stayed to rebuild the second Pao Pao. After he rebuilds the club, he gives it to Bob, who Richard felt was worthy of full ownership because of his impressive skills. Richard now has devoted his time to entertain the masses and garner attention for both Pao Pao Cafés. He has made many friends in the fighting community ever since. While Bob usually does the fighting, Richard will throw down once more if challenged.

Pao Pao Café 2 has an even more expensive layout, which is a reflection of the first Pao Pao's success. The branch had abandoned the first one's Chinese theme in order to adopt a more tribal, tropical motif. Keeping with tradition, the roda de capoeira still plays there for fights happening in the place.

The Mexico branch looks similar to the original Pao Pao, with different floor tiles. It was used by the Mexico Team (Ryo Sakazaki, Robert Garcia and Takuma Sakazaki) as their fighting arena of choice and their fights were attended by many of their friends and enemies. Here, instead of a roda, the music is provided by a group of frantic mariachis.

In its depiction on The King of Fighters '94: Rebout, the place looks a lot bigger, the arena being a moving elevator that tour around the whole building halls and exterior.



Staff

 * Richard Meyer - founder, owner, manager and bartender.
 * Bob Wilson - manager of Pao Pao Café 2.

Attendants

 * Terry Bogard
 * Andy Bogard
 * Joe Higashi
 * Mickey Rogers
 * Lee Pai Long
 * Temjin
 * Ryuhaku Todoh
 * Eiji Kisaragi
 * Mr. Big
 * Geese Howard
 * Lily McGuire
 * Sie Kensou
 * Kim Kaphwan
 * Duck King
 * Mai Shiranui
 * Chang Koehan
 * Choi Bounge
 * Tizoc
 * Bonne Jenet
 * Hotaru Futaba
 * Lillien Knights

Appearances

 * Fatal Fury
 * Fatal Fury 2
 * Fatal Fury Special
 * Fatal Fury 3
 * The King of Fighters '94
 * The King of Fighters '94: Rebout
 * The King of Fighters XI
 * The King of Fighters XIII
 * Capcom vs. SNK