Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Brandon.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have loved coffee for as long as I can remember, from the experience of it, the taste, the culture, the complexity of it, and the social environment it promotes! While in college, it was my most cherished routine, multiple times a day, because it was my break away from all the bustle in my life. From the day I moved to Seattle to start college, I knew coffee would have to be in my future in some way. Prior to moving to LA to help my brother start a few small businesses, I taught communication and public health at a university. I met several people who were professors who had small businesses on the side, and it was my mission to do the same one day. My brother, Chris Brandon, and partners had opened restaurants in the LA area and in NYC, and asked if I would be interested in moving to LA to join the team, with future plans to start a coffee shop that I could run! I was stoked and made the move shortly after!
Our good friend Keiko Ishida also has a passion for coffee and she has been an integral part to our vision. We have spent many R&D days together cooking up recipes, going to coffee shops, and sharing our love for it! And we get to learn so much together as we grow. Two restaurant openings later, we opened Rocketship Coffee exactly one week before the lockdown due to the pandemic; talk about timing! It was quite the curveball and has been challenging but rewarding at the same time. We are grateful for the support we have had so far! I love all the moments spent with strangers and regulars alike as we look to each other for some peace of mind and those little routines that remind us of the pre-pandemic good ole’ days.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I have found anything worthwhile has its challenges! But challenges provide us with the best opportunities for growth and experience. We spent a lot of time, energy, and resources to open up Rocketship, and having opened a week before a lockdown. The main struggle now has been dealing with the uncertainty of the pandemic and being a small business. The future of the industry is unknown if we don’t support small and local businesses.
Please tell us about Rocketship Coffee.
We wanted to start a coffee company from the ground up with no pretentiousness. We wanted to create a happy and welcoming atmosphere for all. Our goal is to support local companies and roasters, with an eventual plan to be able to partner with farmers around the world and make our own brand of coffee. Several of us are Asian and Latino and wanted to bring that ethos of diversity into our brand. Our mother company is a jack of all trades, creating various restaurant concepts, a spirits brand, to interior design. We have put together a unique team of individuals to help make this a reality!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
In light of the current climate of the pandemic, finding a space with a lot of outdoor potentials would be a priority. It helps that LA is such a nice place for outdoor cafes. Our vision was to have a community space for indoor gatherings, like small music and comedy shows, as well as a space to share art and host events. Unfortunately, for now, that is out the window.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7475 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046 - Website: www.rocketshipcoffeela.com
- Phone: 323.433.4744
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/rocketshipcoffee?igshid=1g4yeum7tp7d
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RocketshipCoffeeLA/
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