Today we’d like to introduce you to Tran Nguyen.
Hi Tran, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Tran Nguyen, and I am the owner of Bobarista, a small boba shop in Southeast Houston. Bobarista was established on August 29th, 2018, when I was a junior student at the University of Houston. Owning a tapioca store has been my dream business since my first part-time job at a neighborhood coffee shop.
It was all a coincidence how I chose to start Bobarista, which is about 40 miles away from my home in Richmond. The notion originated after repeated visitations to my relative who resided near NASA. We were searching for a spot to sit down and have some boba drinks. When I discovered that there was no other suitable spot in the area, I decided to go ahead and do it. Then, with the aid of my family, I collected some finances and later launched Bobarista to deliver some quality boba, tea, coffee, smoothies, snack, and a venue to serve people in the region.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth ride, in my opinion.
Because I was a college student, the original plan called for another friend to participate. It turned out that my friend had to pull out of the deal after we had signed all the papers for the rental and construction of the new store. The store was left solely in my management at that point. It was not easy because I knew nothing other than cooking and making drinks. To get started, I had to do all the legwork on my own, including scouting out suppliers and equipment, filling out paperwork, and commuting between my house and the business nearly every day. Then, when the business opened, my school year began. I vowed that I would not let work interfere with my studies. It is typical for new businesses to expect a huge amount of customers for the first few weeks, and we were no exception. I used to get up early every day to shop for supplies, remain late to prepare for the next day’s work, and then do homework when I got home. I did not get nearly enough sleep for months. It was one of the most difficult times, but I was encouraged by the great customer response and still could not believe my dream had finally come true.
I believed everything was going well until COVID started in early 2019, just four months after we opened. This contagious and lethal disease was so frightening to my family that we decided to close temporarily. Rent and expenses had to be paid, and my employees needed to keep their employment, so this was not a viable option. After a one and a half month break, we returned to work with caution. We, like most businesses, were having a difficult time keeping our operation solvent as sales was dropping. Additionally, supplies became more difficult to get as the price of goods soared. I contemplated giving up numerous times.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
“Handcrafted Drinks and Snacks” is our tagline. Although other establishments tend to tout their high-quality ingredients, I want to serve consumers just the most natural options. I utilize real fruits for our drinks, obtain our ingredients from trusted vendors, and strive to make customers feel like Bobarista is a place where they can relax and enjoy a wonderful drink and snacks without having to drive to Chinatown, which is 30 minutes away.
My staff is another aspect of my business that I am pleased with. Even though they are all college students, Bobarista has been open and running since its inception. As a full-time employee and owning Bobarista, they have helped running the store so I can have more personal time. Several of my employees have been with me from the beginning and have seen Bobarista through its highs and lows. They are always there to support and encourage me, even when things become challenging. They are always eager to put in the extra time, stay a little later, and go above and beyond to meet the needs of the customers. I cannot express my gratitude enough.
Our uniqueness stems from our ability to combine real and good ingredients with dedicated staffs setting us apart from others. In addition, I am extremely thankful for the continuing support from our beloved customers, especially ones who are willing to give us feedback, introduce Bobarista to their families and friends, and returns with more orders.
Although we are not as well-known as franchise shops, we would love to hear from you if you ever find yourself in the neighborhood.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I have lived in Houston for nearly a decade, and I have grown to appreciate the city’s cultural diversity. My favorite thing about our time is that people are accepting everything, from differences in social class, identity, ethnicity, and even genders, to the most fundamental pleasures like music and food. I enjoy it when people tell me that this is the first time they have ever visited a boba shop. I would happily explain it, get their take on it, and suggest a drink that would go well with their tastes.
Houston traffic is one of the most disliked aspects of our city, and I am sure many others feel the same way. It takes me over an hour, or worse during rush hours, just to get to work from Richmond, where I currently reside.
Contact Info:
- Email: bobaristaus@gmail.com
- Website: bobarista.us
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobaristaus/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobaristahouston/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bobarista-houston
Image Credits
Dat Nguyen Photography (@foodwithtory.htx)
