It’s Founder Friday! Today we get to talk with Mario Jimenez one of the owners of Banana Dang Coffee in Oceanside, California!
Mario and his wife, Thanh-Thanh Dang started Banana Dang back in 2007 in Rincon, Puerto Rico before eventually relocating to Oceanside, California. Back on the island, they served Puerto Rican coffee and homegrown bananas in all their smoothies. Dubbed the “World’s First ALL Banana Smoothie and Specialty Coffee Bar,” Banana Dang became an institution in the Caribbean surf town. After selling the property in Rincon in 2014, they returned to California and opened the second Banana Dang shop in Oceanside in 2015.
Banana Dang is lovely and unique business in the specialty retail space with a simple mission and a lot to teach us. In today’s interview we will be exploring the founding and evolution of Banana Dang in depth with Mario and learning all about the heart behind it and the insights gain from over 13 years of operation.
You will learn about:
- How Mario went form band leader to shop owner
- Why they are “Bananas about Coffee”!
- Why coffee is like music
- Winning with simplicity
- Standing out as a brand
- Staying true to your values
- Closing a successful store to re-opening stateside
- Cultivating culture
- The balance between discipline and fun
- Serving their community
Links:
Related episodes:
Founder Friday w/ Luaren Crabb / Andytown Coffee Roasters
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