Describe your business
At THub, we sell boba, teas, coffee, and snacks. We want to expand the lunch menu and update the shop by our first anniversary, February 10th.
Where are you originally from?
We are originally from India and came here in 2008. We both worked as software engineers, but we realized that running from the bay to the city while caring for two kids was tough on us, so I quit my job. My husband stayed working as a software engineer, and I started running THub.
What made you decide to open this business?
My husband’s family has been in the restaurant business for the past 40 years. Coming from a business family, we wanted to start a restaurant. We thought this location would be best suited for a boba spot, and that is how we started.
What drives you to do what you do? What motivates you?
When I look at the kids who come here, I see they are the next generation. I want to give back to the community and give these kids any skill that can help them. The employees that are working in the store are all high school students, mainly seniors. I know that they will leave us around August, six months, but I will still work hard to train them. These kids are stepping out of the nest, and I believe that teaching them valuable skills is a good way to give back. I prefer to hire seniors and college students in order to prepare them to step out of their nests. My daughter is a senior, and she is the one who exposed us to the boba business. The business classes that she has taken have guided her, and now she is one of the backbone and foundation of this shop.
What has surprised you most when owning a business?
We have a very small space so we plan for a week, since can’t keep the raw material for longer than that. We are getting closer to our anniversary; our grand opening was the first time we sold out of almost everything! We did not reach that milestone after that. Despite that, we are so happy to share our business with the community.
What are your goals over the next year?
We want to strengthen our business model and look into expanding to other cities too.
What are your greatest challenges?
Our greatest challenges would have to be our financials. Inflation has caused all the prices to go up. When we first started, the prices were low, and we wanted to use organic ingredients. The timing of us entering this business was affected by the pandemic and rising inflation. Not only but the salaries for employees, and the cost for everything else is going up.
How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
We have lived in Mountain House for 5 years. We love how peaceful it is, the greenery and farms, quietness is something you don’t get in the city.
What do you love most about the neighborhood?
It is a beautiful neighborhood with great community members. When I go on walks, I take pictures to show my kids. And everyone I meet on the way greets me with a smile and small talk. I love living in this close-knit community, there’s a homely feeling to it. It’s beautiful.
What are your favorite restaurants in the neighborhood?
Mountain Mikes! It’s nice to have a pizza place close by.
Have you witnessed any significant changes since moving here?
The population has doubled since we moved to Mountain House. I see a lot of commercial stores coming in. We used to go to Tracy for everything, but now everything is local, and it is easier to commute. Gas stations and other businesses are being introduced which is great for the community.
What do you want to see improve the most in this neighborhood?
The community is really beautiful, but we need to uphold that. I request all the customers not to throw cups on the floor, and public areas. We use compostable and recyclable materials here. We always tell employees and kids to pick up trash they see, it requires everyone’s hand to keep our beautiful community the way it is.
What is something most people don't know about you?
We make everything in-house. From the popcorn chicken, muffins, boba, and all the drinks, we use the recipes we’ve created.
Why do you think it's important for people to shop local?
The money stays within when you shop locally. We always encourage others to shop locally because we firmly believe in giving back to our community. We have and will continue host fundraising events and donate money to our local schools. It’s the best way to grow.
What is your most memorable customer experience?
In addition to the reviews on Google and Yelp, we enjoy the moments when customers speak to us about their experience the most. It gives us so much gratitude to interact with our close-knit community.
Anything exciting going on that customers should know about?
We have a rewards program, anyone can download on mobile app, “THub Cafe” on the App Store or Google Play Store. A dollar spent is one point. And for every 50 points, you get one free drink! February 10th is our 1st anniversary, in honor of that we are going to give one free seasonal drink (from our February lineup) for every order. We hope to see you there!
What does the future hold for you?
My husband wants to expand to a restaurant, but we want to hold off on that idea since our son is in 7th grade. Once he steps out, we think it would be a good time to expand.
Note: This article is about Thubs Cafe. Please visit their profile page to find more information and review the business.
