I am very excited for this Founder Friday! When we talk about coffee shops we often talk about culture, authenticity, and relationships. I have the immense pleasure of presenting to you a conversation with someone whose business and way of operating in the world of coffee exemplifies those things. Today we are talking with the dynamic Jackie Nguyen, founder of Cafe Cà Phê, a ground breaking Vietnamese coffee shop based in Kansas City, MO.
Jackie is a first generation, Vietnamese American, daughter of a refugee. Born and raised in sunny San Diego, California. After graduating California State University, Fullerton with a BFA in Musical Theatre, she moved to New York City to pursue a career on Broadway. Some of her favorite jobs were performing on stage with Reba McIntyre, Ashlee Simpson, many holiday seasons with How The Grinch Stole Christmas the Musical and most recently traveling the country with the Broadway Revival Tour of Miss Saigon.
After ten years of being a New Yorker, ten International and National Broadway tours, she decided to take a career pivot, relocate to KCMO and pour her heart into Cafe Cà Phê. Spending 8 years of being a barista, a trip to Vietnam last year, and a yearning for entrepreneurship, the idea of a Vietnamese coffeeshop was born.
I have had the honor of having Jackie as a client since the start of her business and am so excited for you to hear the story of Jackie and Cafe Cà Phê’s mission, development, and impact on the KCMO community and beyond.
In this conversation we cover:
- Her unique way of researching the concept
- Pivoting from the world acting to coffee
- Responding to changes in the plan due to COVID
- The difference of the Vietnamese cafe culture
- Overcoming huge operational challenges
- Making a place for the KC Asian community
- Learning to run a coffee trailer from scratch
- Networking and building relationships
- Finding locations to pop-up and a long term residency
- Authentic expression and vulnerability
- What is next for Cafe Cà Phê
Links:
Episodes to listen to next:
281 : The Vietnamese Coffee Revolution w/ Sahra Nguyen of Nguyen Coffee Supply
279 : Founder Friday! w/ Daniel Brown and Nephthaly Leonidas of Gilly Brew Bar
199 : Founder Friday w/ Mario Jimenez of Banana Dang Coffee, Oceanside, CA
086 : Founder Friday w/ JoEllen Depakakibo / Pinhole Coffee
097 : Founder Friday w/ Erica Escalante of The Arrow Coffeehouse
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