Coffee. Community. Culture.
The last couple of weeks have been quite the rollercoaster. From putting in an offer on an existing cafe to not being able to reach an agreement on said cafe, it’s been a test of our will to simply keep going. Not to mention, we both still have our full-time jobs!
What’s been interesting about starting our own business is the amount of steam necessary to stay encouraged. We came into this knowing it would be a challenging and unpredictable journey. What sustains us is our belief that there is a serious need for a space like this. We hear it from strangers in these streets, cashiers in these stores, Lyft passengers, other baristas, family, friends, and more.
The three pillars of Nirvana Soul are coffee, community, and culture. Here’s why:
Coffee
None of what we’re doing would be possible without our shared love for the coffee (and tea). As you know, it’s a spiritual experience for us. The power of coffee brings people of all walks of life together to just slow down for a moment and enjoy each others company. And Jeronica is a pro! Her love for coffee began a long time ago and she’s been hooked ever since. Her current customers feel that joy and so will you.
Community
Our community is the San Jose community. I was born here and we both grew here, spending our childhood on the Eastside before moving to the Southside around high school. My husband and I met here, got married here, and bought our home here. We’re all invested in the success of downtown San Jose. We believe there’s so much more to offer and we’re excited to contribute to what this place could and should be.
Culture
Being a black owned business is special and important to us. We’re often asked what makes our brand unique, and call it pride or arrogance, we’re tempted to answer, “Us.” Nirvana Soul, in so many ways, is a FUBU brand, and we’re proud to represent black excellence and black girl magic and all of the great things that come along with simply being us.
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Jeronica and I are speaking with a small business loan officer this week. There are no guarantees in this game, but we feel pretty good about our chances. It’s likely that we’ll be doing a full-build for our cafe, which means there will be construction, design, permitting, and things like HVAC and restrooms to consider. The idea of taking over an existing shop was and still is really attractive to us, but having the opportunity to create our own space based on the personality of our brand has grown more and more appealing too. It’s all so exciting!
Stick with us as we go! We’re so grateful to have your support. We’ll keep you posted on our progress.