It's Founder Friday! I am so thrilled to feature people who have become friends through getting to know them at coffee vents over the years. They have launched their own coffee house and made something as unique as they are themselves.
Nicolas and Krystal Tanaka are siblings and the proud owners of Kohiko Coffee House, located in Sugar Land, Texas. They’ve combined their unique backgrounds and extensive experience in the coffee and food & beverage industries to create a space that brings quality coffee and Japanese hospitality to the Houston community.
Nic, the visionary behind Kohiko, shared his passion and vision for the coffee house after his first trip to Japan. He had already begun his journey as a barista in a specialty coffee shop in Sugar Land. He approached Krystal with the idea during her time pursuing her MBA, which led to them working together on an entrepreneurial project in her final semester. This is where they saw that their passions and strengths complemented each other.
As Peruvian and Japanese Americans, they felt particularly connected to bringing something unique and special to Sugar Land. They honed in on the idea of bringing quality coffee with Japanese hospitality to Houston. After Nic became a two-time Coffee Fest World Latte Art Champion and Krystal graduated from her program, they chose to pursue this endeavor together.
Their family has always inspired and motivated their journey. Their grandfather, Roy Tanaka, an entrepreneur who instilled Japanese values and compassion, played a key role in shaping their vision. Their youngest brother, Kenji, continues to inspire them as he makes a name for himself in the coffee world. They are grateful for their community who helped motivate and encourage them to turn their dream into a reality!
Today we are exploring their story in 2 parts.
- First we talk with them on their first day being open.
- Next we catch up with Nic and Krystal after five months of operation.
These conversations presented back-to-back give us deep insight into the values, vision, plans, and life of the business from conception to full open and growing.
I love the whole Tanka family and after you listen to today's episode I think you will too!
Enjoy!
We discuss:
- The journey to deciding to open a shop
- The Challenges of Being Your Own General Contractor
- Embracing Japanese Hospitality and Quality
- The Importance of Transparency and Openness in Service
- Building a Positive Work Environment through Communication
- Exceeding Expectations on the First Day
- Navigating Personal and Professional Life
- The Impact of Viral Success
- Adapting to Demand and Building a Team
- Why transparency and openness are key aspects of service
- Scaling Operations: The Ice Dilemma
- Strategic Growth: Balancing Innovation and Stability
- Resilience in Entrepreneurship: Staying Grounded
Links:
Instagram: @kohikocoffeehouse
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