We Make Your Day a Little Brighter

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cliff Chi, founder of Noah’s Cafe, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are a Japanese-based innovative fusion food restaurant & bar. As we opened during the pandemic, and not so many tourists visiting overseas, a lot of locals are supporting our business. And gratefully, repeating customers have been consistently bringing new customers, telling them how they were impressed with our creativity and the experiences.

Tell us about yourself

I had been in the industry for 15 years before I started my own. As the pandemic began, I was laid off didn’t really do anything for about three weeks. I was about to go crazy because, for the past 15 years, I had been the whole time, working long hours for years and years. My newborn son was two months old by the end of March 2020. I figured I could not stand not doing anything. I thought strongly that I needed to do something.

I started with pop-up doing take-out once a week, renting my friend’s restaurant. I guess the best thing that motivated me was to be able to see all the people. It was just a pick-up period of a short time chat, but I felt very satisfied seeing smiles from everyone. After 4months of pop, I decided to open my own place, naming it after my son, Noah.

I believe the nature of this business is “to make people happy.” Each day before I go to bed, I write down the ideas, the dishes I’ll be doing for the next day, imagining the smiles I’ll see from customers.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I have always wanted to do my own. And through the past years of experience, I’ve never stood in the position as an owner. As of now, I’ve become an owner, running the business. There were so many things I never knew. I realized that it only gets difficult, and there are always problems. But at the same time, there are always solutions and answers for problems and issues. I’m grateful that I’m being able to learn more than ever. And the most beautiful thing I’ve accomplished is that I have the greatest team that works together with me to solve problems and find the solutions to make ourselves and the store better and better every single day.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

As I mentioned above, I believe “making people happy” is the nature of this business. It is not quite easy to do so. No matter how hard you work, no matter how much time you spend, not every single person is happy with what you do. The hardest yet saddest thing is to see people leaving the store not happy.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

“Passion” The most important thing. With passion, you can keep going. You can probably do anything.
“Gratefulness” To the staff, family, all the clients who have been consistently supporting the business, appreciation is one of the most important things.
“Health” Without yourself, a business won’t run itself. It needs a leader. You need to stay healthy.

We make your day a little brighter. - team Noah’s Cafe

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.noahscafe604.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Noahs-Cafe-100986161637294/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noah.s_cafe/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.