Today we’d like to introduce you to Christie Pak
Hi Christie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
After spending 15 years as the head of Human Resources, I developed an appreciation for the value of creating a bridge with people. I was a people person, through and through, and my role involved listening to them, advising them, and creating an environment in which they could feel valued. As I resigned, I wanted to preserve that bridge in a new shape.
Coffee has been a part of my life for a long, long time, not just a drink, but a social glue. There is beauty in a conversation over a warm cup, in its comfort and connectivity, in its shared humanity. I took that with me when I began my coffee shop, a warm and cozy environment that feels welcoming and intimate, a refuge for people to drop out of their crazed lives, sit down, and not only have coffee but enjoy the ritual that comes with it.
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?
The journey hasn’t been easy but it’s rarely a smooth ride! One of our biggest battles has been with ingredient pricing.
We work with heart and soul to deliver the best for our guests, but with inflation at a level that’s outpacing our capabilities, sometimes it feels like an uphill battle.
When we took over this business changing the store’s name was challenging.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Morii Coffee. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Morii (Prounoune Mori-森 ) means “forest” in Japanese.
It is also my wish that the interior of this coffee shop has greenery like a forest, but each person wishes to create a beautiful forest when they gather together.
The interior is not just a pretty space, it’s also designed to be “a place where you want to stay comfortable.” I wanted it to be a good place for guests to spend their time talking to their friends or reading a book alone.
Beyond a cup of coffee, I wanted to tell the story inside. My goal was to make a space where customers could come in, drink a cup of warm coffee, and put down the weight of their daily lives for a while.
The biggest feature of our coffee shop is its connection to people.
My coffee shop provides that perfect setting, blending my love for coffee with my passion for fostering connections. It’s a place where community thrives, and every cup brings people closer together.
I wanted to offer a space where people could come together, share stories, and build relationships over a cup of coffee This realization inspired me to create a coffee shop that fosters genuine connections and community.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Our coffee shop will evolve beyond just a place to get a caffeine fix.
They’ll become spaces for connection, creativity, and community.
As people seek more meaningful experiences, our coffee shop might host events like workshops, live performances, or educational seminars. In addition, with remote work on the rise, our coffee shop may adapt by offering more comfortable, co-working-friendly environments, further blurring the lines between our coffee shop and office spaces.
And, if everything allows me, I would love to open another coffee shop in another area next 5-10 years.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @themoriicoffee
