Maricruz - owner of Bubbles & Tea Coffeehouse

Inspired from the vast experience she has accumulated, Maricruz knew instantly she was going to have her own coffeehouse. But not just any coffeehouse, one that allows her to be able to bring it all together while adding her own unique twist! Coffeehouse by day, wine lounge by night, going over why now and how she is getting ready for the grand opening this June 8th!

Transcript

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Hey there, Arnold Vasquez here, your host with the most for the coast. Welcome to the Central Coast Entrepreneurs Podcast, helping aspiring new entrepreneurs connect, collaborate, and succeed with other fellow businesses in California Central Coast. Join me as we share the firsthand experience from your favorite local business owners and form part of a community of like-minded people working towards a common goal of success by sharing who they are, what they do, and what they stand for. Thank you so much for joining us today on the podcast, Mari Cruz for take number two. And yeah, if you could give us a brief introduction of who you are and the name of your business. Sure. My name is Mari Cruz Sanchez and I own Bubbles and Tea Coffeehouse. Perfect. And before we even do get started I did want to ask points for creativity because I absolutely love the logo. So the name actually comes from Boba. So this was gonna be a Boba and Coffee House. Yes. But as the brand started evolving, it just became, the bubbles is now sparkling wine and tea is obviously tea and coffee. Yes. So it's just, it just evolved as the identity of the brand evolved simultaneously, yeah, definitely. Yes. And prior to right now, just starting your own business, I did want to ask what, what experience did you have outside of here? What did you work in before here? I used to I've done many different jobs. I've waitressed, I've done. Property management. I used to run the Leticia wine club, the one right off, off of the 1 0 1. I used to run their wine club Oh. For about two years. And I used to do their events and, just all the fun stuff. Pack the wines, ship the wine, get the deliveries, all that. But I also was a real estate agent and I used to also sell solar. So I've done plenty of different jobs. A lot of. A lot of jobs that very were customer centric. Oh yeah, definitely. Oh, okay. Yeah. Oh, that's, oh, that's good then. Then let me some nine to five. Some entrepreneur some, hospitality. Just a little bit of everything. Yeah. A all, all of that collective experience, a that helps you, it helps you get to where you are right now. Yeah, cool stuff. Definitely. Thank you. And more than anything I did want to ask. Why out of all the businesses that you could have started, what particularly made you want to start your own tea and coffee house? Like I mentioned, I have always most of my jobs were always in the hospitality industry, so I worked plenty of different restaurants from corporate to small mom and pops, and at one point I worked three different. Restaurant jobs all at once altogether just for fun. Uhhuh just for fun and just for fun. Yeah, I don't know. There was just, there's just this thing of that I just, I wanted to see how much I could do and I don't know how much I could take. I guess I like to torture myself. I don't know. But yeah. So working in those different jobs, I would always notice like certain things like when, whether it was corporate or a small mom and pop shop, I always. Notice things like as small as well, in my opinion, as big as, but like I would be like, why is that sink there when the dis the soap dispensers all the way over there? Or why is the table here right by this or just small little things. And I would always, it was always just so interesting to me to see the different, the way that different restaurants like ran their business and it was just, Something that I don't know interest in kept my interest. Okay. And living in Little Italy and San Diego for a couple of years. There was always new restaurants opening up or in downtown, in the gas lab district. And so for me, fun was checking those places out, seeing how they decorated. Obviously taking Instagram videos and photos and then getting my food and like taking a picture of that before I ate it and. All that. Before, after before, after, after. It was probably going out to a bar and having a drink or something, but I'll take a picture of that too. But yeah, and so it's just a good environment. Restaurants are a great environment. You come with your family, you come with your friends, you go by yourself, whatever it is, and you're just enjoying the atmosphere, enjoying the food, enjoying the wine, whatever it is. It's just, I love it. Yeah, so that was, that's really awesome that not only were you able to. Experienced that firsthand. Not necessarily just when a new restaurant opened up in little Italy and downtown San Diego, but you were also just taking all these mental notes that I guess most people really wouldn't pay attention to, but you just, had that keen eye of Yeah. Detail. You said, it's not that you knew you were gonna open up something for yourself, but you said, huh, I wonder why this is the way it is, yes. Yeah. That's all and in, in the back of my mind, I always. Would think, if I ever opened my own restaurant or my own coffee shop, because I would not only go to restaurants, I'd go to coffee shops too, because during the day I loved taking in my laptop and go visiting different coffee shops. I had a girlfriend of mine that we would lit, literally have coffee dates and we'd just sit next to each other, not talk at all, but we would just sit there with our laptops open. And then we had our places where it's oh, this place has the best macadamia milk, or this place has the best croissants or, so we just always found like the spots. And so in the back of my mind it was always like, oh, if I ever opened something like this is how I would do it. And yeah. And so I don't know. I it just, I guess unknowingly that's what I was always supposed to be doing. Yeah. I was always taking those mental notes. Yeah. Hey you, so you did have that just, I like how you mentioned that, how you said, Hey, if I ever open one up, at least I have some ideas now I have some ideas. Yeah. And you said that you used to journal it sometimes or something? I, that's how, so I journal in the morning. And when I was, so I'm originally from N Pomo, but I moved away for 10 years. And I was in San Diego and it was great, but it was just, I don't know, I was done doing real estate. It was just not my thing. I wasn't happy. And so I came to my mom's for a week to clear my head and see what I really wanted to do. And it was that morning that I was journaling. And the reason actually, how I really got led here is I was journaling and then I had to do something called power hour, which is what I was doing. What you do when you're in solar, you do a power hour and you look at all your accounts, make sure everything's getting pushed through so that you can get the install. And I needed wifi, and my mom had terrible wifi. And so for me, living in Little Italy, it was just kinda oh, like I, I'll just go to a coffee shop or whatever. Yeah. Here I was like, eh, let me just see let me like pull up Google. Let me just see what pops up for Nipomo. And it was that moment that I knew what Nipomo lacked. And I was like, this is perfect. And so I knew there was new construction downtown and there was some vacant spots, so I actually went to go talk to people across the street about them. Oh. And then they told me that this spot was open and this spot that Bubbles and tea is currently in. When I was little, it used to be a coffee house. I was probably like five years old, but I always loved the patio. I always thought it was so magical back here because of the oak trees and everything. And so as soon as I saw this, I was like, this. Is the sign, this is what I'm gonna do. And so literally that week that I was here visiting my mom, I put in my 30 day notice for my apartment that I had over there in San Diego, and I just went for it. Yeah. I love that kind of that origin story that you shared with us because you already had your own routine, your own, set schedule life. Your own, you already had your own mark and what you did and how you went about your day when you lived in San Diego. And I'm seeing a similarity here that a lot of people, lemme say that again. I'm sorry. I absolutely love how you shared how you already had your set routine in San Diego, but then you said, Hey, you know what? I just need a, I need a break from all this. Came down here to nap Pomo, which you obviously, you already have family here. You said you Yes. You are from here. And more than anything, just when you took that moment to step out of your environment and, you had a different perspective on things and that really helped to not only shed some light, but figure out, like just do that internal click and say, Hey, I know what I wanna do now. Yeah. Yeah. Give you that moment of clarity. Totally. Totally. Yeah. Yes. And. I also wanted to ask before we get even more in depth about the business as well too, tell us something about yourself that most people don't know. So the probably that I that I barely, made it outta high school. I barely graduated and that's, I don't have any other degrees besides that. Other than that, it's just been all waitressing or entrepreneurial jobs. I have my real estate license, but, oh, there you go. I have my real estate license, everybody, so if you wanna house, I was just kidding. Just kidding. I don't wanna do that. But yeah I don't have any other degrees besides that one. Yeah, no, I'm glad that you actually shared that because. That's a testament that not necessarily, college is, for some people, and it isn't for, it isn't for everybody, it is for some people. But regardless of whatever, status quo or whatever degrees you have, you can always make deal with what you have. And with where you're currently at. And that's what you did. That's right. Yes. Because obviously, you still did get your real estate license and then you got all this hospitality experience and also just this. Really hands-on experience that is helping to evolve, helped evolve you into the person you are now. Definitely. And just move things forward. Yeah, definitely. Every job that I did, all the skills have been implemented here. I bubbles and tea, I mean everything. And it's just crazy to think back because in all of those jobs I didn't like any, actually the hospitality, like waitressing, I'm not joking You, is probably the funnest job for me. Oh really? Because of the talking to the people and getting to know a bunch of people, especially when I was in Little Italy, because it's like you met a ton of people and then the. The waitresses and the waiters ended up going out with the people that were eating there. And it was just like this whole experience. You'd go into like people's condos and sometimes I'd be like in this like gorgeous, like luxurious condo and I'm like, waitressing. But it was just the coolest, like it just took me to so many different places and got to, I got to talk to so many different faces. So that was the funnest. But out of all of the other ones, it was like, ugh. Like I do not wanna be here, but I had to be there in order for me to understand all of those skills and to bring them here with me. So yeah, to pro, to progress in your, exactly. Your journey of knowledge, experience. Yeah. I really do believe that there's a plan. There's already a plan written for everyone. Everybody has their time, everybody has their skills and everything. But I think that there is something a little bit I guess more powerful than us that it's, your journey is already written out. You just have to wait and go through the hurdles and everything and just see where it takes you. Definitely. Yeah. And hearing you speak about all the hurdles that somebody goes through, And all of the obstacles as well too. When people when people come in, they're gonna see, a final finished product. I'm here now and I'm already in awe just by seeing how wonderful the logo is. Thank you. I can see the vision and the a piece of your vision and layout of how you are wanting to get, how you're gonna have everything set up. Thank you. But when they come here, they're gonna see everything nice and ready. And they're gonna think to themselves, oh wow. It was always like this. But I wanted to ask. What is a challenge that you faced when you were just starting out in the business? So the biggest challenge was believing in my vision. I believed in it, that's no doubt. Otherwise I wouldn't have, taken up upon the lease and, so I believed in it. But sticking to the vision, because when you tell. People, your vision. They don't see it the way that you do because it's not in their mind, it's not in their brain. They haven't been where you've been. So it was learning who to share my vision with. And also learning who's because if you find the like-minded person, then go ahead and share. Other than that, I was very happy to share with like friends and family. But when you're so excited about something and somebody like isn't seeing the vision, you're oh, that sucks. Yeah. And you wanna stay in that positive vibration always. So learning that not everybody was gonna see the vision. That was probably the hardest part and now I know that it's just your vision just has to be brought to the table in order for people to truly enjoy it because they won't be able to see it when you're just verbally trying to. Put the picture together. No, that's, so that was the hardest part. Also my vision was to to some people that I talked to about it, they said it was too city. It was too city, and this is small town and that it wouldn't work. And so I, that made me really nervous, but I'm still bringing. San Diego with me, everybody. No, but I think that we all like it. We all drive everywhere to go do really nice things. And this is not really city to, actually it is a lot of different ideas that I got from San Diego, but it's not city because I'm in a Pomo. We are in Nipomo n Pomos. Just getting a new different type of business is all it is. Exactly. Yeah, no, it's just, it being. Added into the community. Yes. But I really like how you said that, how you aren't necessarily, totally doing something out of the norm. You're, you are a new business owner, being part in integrating part as part of yourself, of the community, but you are also innovating, bringing your own. Unique twist you're part of San Diego, but more than anything, your own personality as well too, because at the end of the day you are the brand. So when people are gonna be dealing with you on a day-to-day basis, be it a customer online at social events or et cetera, anywhere that you are representing your brand, they're gonna be like, oh wow. I really enjoyed MAD's company. I loved her, I loved the coffee house and I love the wine even more. And they're gonna just, all of that is gonna just come in together and make just a great recipe for success. And just more than anything help you to stand out from everybody else. And what's really good about it too is that everybody there's gonna be success for everybody. And I know just for a fact, how some people, like the steakhouse, certain types of businesses people are just gonna resonate with you. Yes. You can't have said any better on your, on your frequency, on your vibe. Yes. And just be like, they're gonna pick up what you're giving out. Yes. Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. And that's exactly why I said, you know what? I just gotta, I know people are, some people might not see my idea, but. I want the people that do see my idea to be the people that are coming in here. Because at the end of the day, that will be my community, and of course, nap Pomo is all of my community, but everybody has their, the things that they like, yes. Yeah. And and that's fine. No. Oh, yeah. But to respond to that comment that you said about Being, being conscious of who you're sharing your vision with, because, at the end of the day, it's in here and it's, you wanna share it with, you wanna share it with the whole world, of course. And and, but some people just may not see it in the beginning. But, but it's up to us, up to you, up to me, up to the community to bring our, our vision into fruition. Yes. And that really, just helped, really reminds me of a great phrase that I love that. It's funny cuz I see it in a book, Uhhuh and and in a video game that says knowledge is power. But I added onto that phrase, if knowledge is power, then action is manifestation. Yes. And I love that's how you're gonna bring it all come full circle. And I don't wanna say prove the haters wrong, but like just prove to yourself Yes. To the whole world and to the community that, Hey, this is who I am. Yeah. This is what I represent. Yeah. And it's definitely more of approving it to yourself. And also keeping it to yourself. I know a lot of people do like to share step by step, how, all of the hurdles, but I knew this was going to be like month, like months long process, not just a month months. And so I didn't wanna drag people along. And I also knew that I was gonna be changing and learning things about myself. And this is such a. Passion project. And it's so personal to me that I know that we are in a phase of sharing everything and that's how you get likes and that's how you're, people are gonna be able to not adapt to you but to what is the word I'm looking for here? To, share common relate to you. They're gonna relate to you, but I think it's really important to keep certain things to yourself for a little bit. Of course. And then share when you're ready. Because this is a personal journey that you're going through. And some things are meant to be personal and felt alone. And then when you're ready, share it when you're ready, yeah. You were mentioning when we were outside on the patio, that. You said that you learn a little, a lot more about yourself when starting a business. What did you mean by that? Oh yeah. I said I said, you learn a lot more and you get closer to God. Oh yeah. There you go. Because the thing, because you go through a lot of emotional roller coasters. You learn that again, not everybody's gonna see your vision. You also learn how to respond to that. Because. People are allowed to have their opinion, it's just your job to, to figure out how to respond to it. Are you gonna get upset about it? Are you gonna yell? Are you gonna, and sometimes you do, sometimes you're like, you know what, f you man, but at the end of the day, you're building character with who you are and you're a business owner, so I think it's really important to, to, that's why I kept it to things, to myself, because, Not only is my business evolving, but I'm evolving along with my business. This is a big step that I took. And for many entrepreneurs it's a big step that you're taking. Yeah. And everybody wants to hear about it. Everybody wants to see it. And then some people wanna poke you about it, and it's really's I think a lot of people, like a lot of entrepreneurs, they wanna I've heard a lot of things like, why would you open a business there? This is where businesses go to die. And, and I think some people wanna see a reaction, and that's fine, whatever it is. But I think it's just really important to keep some things to yourself and like I said, you evolve with your business. And this moment is so special, I think for, and I think that many entrepreneurs would agree that it's too special to just share with anybody, no you couldn't have said it anymore. Any, any better. Initially. Initially. Later on, like I said, when you're ready to share, because you're like, all right I've had my moments, I feel good, I'm happy. I've built my character, I've built my business and like obviously you're gonna share it with the world cuz you gotta open the doors, right? Yeah. But I don't believe in getting all this content out there because. You have to share cuz that's how you're gonna get popular. Because at the end of the day, if you are not right with your own spirit and who you are, then your business is gonna fail. Not fail, but it'll just get a little hurt. You just gotta be right within yourself, so I think that I think that's important to know. Sorry, I just went on a rant. Oh, no. But hey I'm learning something new that, because at the end of the day I really like how you gave that example that a lot of people, they'll probably start a business, but if you're start, if they don't take that time to not just do the external work, but do the internal work Yeah. Of, rest. Settling all that doubt. Building that. Yes, exactly. Confidence. Yeah. Cuz there's doubt. There is doubt. I get, I wake up at two 30 in the morning, I'm like, oh my God, what am I doing? But yeah, you gotta you gotta learn to know how to be like, okay, calm down, you're being crazy. Just go back to bed. Whatever it is that you need to do. Yeah. Definitely that. No, that's good. Manage those expectations and be like, you know what, it's okay. I've got this. They calm, cool and collected and yeah, let's move forward. Yes, exactly. Exactly. Perfect. And Mar Cruz, I also did want to ask, especially because everybody here in Nap Pomo in Santa Maria, in the Central Coast in general is, it's a very it's a lot more close knit, as in, if people will hear and see your business, they will support you because you're a local business. And especially once get the word out and just put yourself out there. I did want to ask, what does community mean to you? Community means to me, what does it mean to me? I think community is a group of like-minded people who share the same vision and wanna make things happen together and for each other. And, there's plenty of different types of communities. Yeah. It just depends on the one that you're in. Yeah. Yeah. But at, I like how, I, like how you said that at the end of the day, sharing those values with like-minded people. Because at least you don't have to worry about them telling you, oh. That's where, places go to dire. So be like, no, you've got this. Yeah. Yeah. You gotta surround yourself with the right people and you gotta. You gotta really, you gotta find your tribe. Yeah. There you go. Find your tribe. That's a, that's, couldn't have said that any better. And also Mad Cruz, now that I'm, like I was mentioning, I'm here, I'm seeing that you are pretty much 90, 99% ready and I see, just a piece of your vision that you're allowing to share with me. And I did want to ask, what's a goal that you have for Bubbles and Tea? Coffee House? A goal that I have for bubbles and tea, coffee House. I think the goal would be to I hope that other people that have like aspirations to open a business, open up a business, even if it seems like it's like, It could die in a Pomo. I hope that it inspires more businesses to, to come forth and maybe build up downtown. There's downtown is so cute. There's so much land for sale available, commercially zoned, I like geek out on this, but I just hope that it inspires people to. To open up more stuff, so we can all walk around and hop around different places and be able to stay locally and not have to drive to other towns to get this kind of entertainment. We have such cute little places, Birchwood across the street is a cute little beer garden. We have the steakhouse, we have just powerhouse yoga next door to me. She's amazing. I almost died in her class. It was great. Good workout session. Good workout session. But yeah there's. I think Nipomo has so much potential and I hope that I hope that we uplift whoever has an idea to open a Pomo. Because I'm tired of people saying, why would you open it? And that's another thing, I've been here, why would you open it N Pomo? I'm like why not? Why not? What's wrong with it? I like that. Why not? Yes, why not? Yes. So I guess that would be my goal to just. Uplift whoever has a dream here in a Pomo that's awesome. Uplift and empower those. Yes. Aspiring entrepreneurs or those people that are just starting out, or like you said on the fence because Yes, when you. We're here many years ago. You said it wasn't the same. It's not that it wasn't as entrepreneur friendly, it's just you didn't see that. Hey, you've got this, that push, yes. Yeah. To, towards that. Yeah. But now with all the help, the resources, I definitely see how anybody that's just getting started, could literally. Learned something new. For example, they could ask you like, Hey, how did you get your license? Or, how did you do this? Yeah, totally. Totally. I would be more than happy to share all my resources, i, the reason how I got connected with anybody, I actually went to Novo Coffee in that drive-through coffee shop in Ag. Oh. And Jenna's the owner. And I literally it was probably my first day back or something after moving all my things here. I went to her, she didn't know me, I didn't know her, and I said, Hey, I just got a lease for a coffee shop and I don't know what to do. And she literally helped me. Another coffee shop helped me. That is gonna be another coffee shop, but that's that's so great because it wasn't competition for her, it was just another person helping another person, and it was so amazing. And so she helped me out a lot. And I started doing a lot of things. Wh what's her name? Jenna. And she's from what business? Novo Coffee. Shout out to Jenna from Nova Coffee. Shout out Jenna. I wouldn't be here if I was, if it wasn't for you. No. That's just like I was saying, that's, no, she helped me a lot. And also Eric Salguero, he used to own crossroads Coffee. And I believe he, it's for sale right now. And then he also used to own Another another Mexican restaurant in Avala Beach. So both of those were like my connections. Eric was always a connection. Longtime friend with my sisters and Jenna, I was just driving and I was like, I'm just gonna pull over and see what I can get here. And she totally helped me. She's amazing. So yeah, shout out to her for sure. That's perfect. No, you couldn't have said any better. I love. That's what one, that's one of my favorite things here about the Central Coast that. Here we're, even though people don't even see each other as competition, they're like, Hey, can I just saw I'm a new business owner. Yeah. You were just very genuine, authentic. You literally pulled over and said, I told her I didn't know what to do. I had no idea. I was desperate. Yeah. And she even let me into like her kitchen and everything, like she was so amazing. So amazing. She's doing so well too. I'm so happy for her. So yeah. I'm excited to invite her over. Oh, of course. Yeah. No, that's, Teamwork makes the dream work. Exactly. Yeah. Perfect. And so Mari Cruz, I had one more question as well too. What is your overall message that you have for our beautiful Central coast To not underestimate the power of vision, because it's the most important thing. Yes. Yeah. Believing in yourself before others do. Exactly. Said. Yes. Yes. Oh you couldn't, yeah, that's, that's a simple message that I feel that you were really conveying here because I read this in a book it's not me, but what did it say? No. Yeah it said if you don't stand for it, if you don't stand for anything, you'll fall for everything. And so yeah, you need to have something that's really, in your core that regardless of whatever people say to you, the naysayers obstacles, because the road will not be easy. That's a fact. But if, and, but if you have that core values no, I'm doing it for this reason and for this reason, and I'm not gonna give up because, I'm gonna stick through it thick and thin. Definitely. And, Once you have that core value, no matter what happens, you're gonna, you're still gonna stay committed. Yep. But if you don't have that core value That's right. Like you, how you were saying that inner confidence anything will knock you off the path. Yep. Unfortunately. Yep. And honestly, there's nothing more beautiful to see something that was in your mind, come to life for others to enjoy. That is, you're here on this planet for what, a hundred years maybe. Nice. And for you to create something just out of your own thoughts and mind and dreams and whatever, and actually put it into place, that's probably one of the greatest things that like you could do for yourself and for the people around you. Yeah. Hearing you say that just that excites me. Just knowing that you literally created something out of nothing, yeah. You brought your, your concept to fruit. You made it exist. It wasn't there. Only in your mind, and you brought it, to life. Yes. Yeah. That's, and because I had great people, my family and all of the people that helped me build this and help me design and everything, of course. But yeah. But yeah. Definitely I'm happy, girl. It's been a journey. It's been a journey. Yes. And Marie Cruz, I wanted to ask, I know that we're gonna have your grand opening announced, pretty soon. I like I said, you're literally already one foot out the door of opening the doors and getting ready. I wanted to ask, where can people find you at online, offline, or wherever else when you are opened? So you can find my Instagram, my business Instagram is gonna be Bubbles and Tea, coffee House, just the name. And you can find my personal Instagram Mari Sanchez with three Zs at the end. And then you can find me here at the coffee shop on, hours of operation. Yes, I will be here. This is my home for, a while. Yes. Yes. Perfect. Mari Cruz, I wish you nothing but success, not in just in your grand opening, but for the, in the opening of your business. I know that we welcome you with open arms here to the Central Coast. Oh, thank you. Can't wait to get the word out and I, more than anything, I can't wait till the grand opening. Oh, thank you so much. Thank you, Mari Cruz. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode. And if you know somebody that would really appreciate listening to the podcast, I would humbly ask if you may share the podcast with that family friend or relative let's connect, let's collaborate and succeed together. Arnold signing up.