Year 1 Reflection & Gratitude.
Year one.
On April 23rd, 2022, it’ll be Portland Cà Phê’s first brick-and-mortar anniversary. As I sit here and reflect on how much my life has changed over the last year, I can’t help but feel extremely grateful.
The state of the caphe has been far more successful than I originally had planned. I knew I was opening a coffee shop in the middle of a pandemic… in one of the best coffee cities in the world. To be 100% real, I was more prepared for failure than for success. Since then, I’m still trying to process everything that’s happened.
Only 4 months after the caphe’s doors opened, its success gave me the chance to leave my other full-time job in the corporate world. While I’m extremely thankful that I had the opportunity to do so, I was also met with challenges of being able to keep up with the growth and demand that I wasn’t expecting! Then winter came and things slow down, now quicker than I imagined. Through these growing pains I honestly learned so much about myself, forced myself to learn new skills, and became more resilient than I ever thought I could be. (I’m actually pretty tired of the word 'resilient,' but it does describe my situation! Lol.) Now, I could visualize caphe’s future, and the goals I wanted for years 2 & 3.
When I started Portland Cà Phê, I had two clear goals which have since shaped it into what it is today: (1) To provide quality Vietnamese grown coffee, while nurturing equitable and positive relationships locally and globally, and (2) to diversify and empower these communities, by sharing my love of coffee and its culture. Yes, Portland Cà Phê is about Vietnamese coffee, but it’s equally about people. I believe in fostering a space that uplifts and supports communities.
A year later I am proud to say that 99% of my staff identify as a person of color and 95% of my vendors and partners are Asian owned. Shoutout to Lisa Nguyen at HeyDay PDX, Sam Khatue at Diaspora Chai, Analy Lee at Analy Photos and Alex Chiu at Art by Alex Chiu! These partners are very much a part of the success of the caphe.
I’m grateful for the friendships that came out of these partnerships.
I’m grateful for my amazing team who hold down the shop day in and day out, caring about my mission just as much as I do.
I’m grateful for every door that’s been opened for us.
I’m grateful for the growing pains (seriously, I am).
I’m grateful for every customer who has purchased a cup of coffee and a bag of beans. Without you, my little quán cà phê wouldn’t exist.
Thanks to you all for the love & support. I’m excited to see what year 2 brings.
Kim