I’ve spent the last month trying to buy a boba shop in mid-Wilshire from its current owner. Although we didn’t close the acquisition, I worked out a deal to take over the shop for 6 months as a kind of trial for both sides. Though we won’t change the store name, there’s latitude to change most other things.
I spent yesterday and will spend today learning to make drinks and observing the owner at her second store in north LA. It’s both fun and tiring. At this age, the energy and enthusiasm don’t come as easily as they used to. But it’s been a bucket list sort of thing to run my own brick and mortar business(es), and this is a small first step.
My respect for these owners and operators grows with every passing hour. The margins are slim, the rules and regs seem endless, and the operations are a constant juggling act of trying to catch the falling ball. But it’s also fun to interact with customers and make tasty drinks and be so physically involved. It’s satisfying in a different way from my usual sitting behind a computer screen commanding keyboard armies.
I’m excited to experiment with different changes to the marketing and the menu over time. In particular to integrate NFTs and maybe make some TikToks.
Starting this Thursday you can come visit, it’s the Lucky Leaf on Wilshire and La Brea. Or give me a heads up first to make sure I’m there.