For this last Founder Friday of 2024 we are featuring a story that I believe really embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship that fuels so many coffee shops. From a cart in the pandemic, to a thriving cafe and catering business, Thrd Coffee, Lead by Raoul Adwan, has shown what is possible when you build with passion and focus.

Raoul Adwan is a Chicago native of Mexican and Bolivian descent who turned a passion for coffee into a thriving business.

Raoul launched his venture during the pandemic with the help of a stimulus check, starting off with a single coffee cart offering street-side brews.

What began as a humble pop-up operation quickly gained traction, and within four years, Raoul's business expanded to a brick-and-mortar location (currently in the works for his second shop) , complemented by multiple carts equipped with top-tier coffee gear.

Today, Raoul leads one of Chicago's top coffee catering operations, serving corporate spaces and buildings across downtown with full-service coffee bars.

His innovative approach and commitment to quality have positioned his business for rapid growth, with projected 2024 sales of over $600K and total gross revenue (starting from 2020 to now) hitting $1.15M. Raoul's journey is a testament to entrepreneurial spirit and community-driven success.

Links:

https://www.thrdcoffee.com/

@THRDCOFFEECO

Related episodes:

• 453 : The Craft of Operations

• 432 : How to Win in Specialty Retail Coffee

• Creative Avoidance : Thoughts on Long-game Management

• 169 : Designing the Guest Experience w/ Dr. Lisa Waxman

• 115 : Finding Success in Mobile Coffee w/ Tim Cox / Communion Coffee

• 422: Coffee Truck Success w/ Vincent LaVolpa of Green Joe Coffee School

• 384 : How to Run a Successful Coffee Cart w/ Sarah Naylor of Daybreak Coffee Cart

• 385 : Founder Friday! w/ Arick Davis and Sarah Laman of Last Mile Cafe, Grand Rapids, MI

• 187 : A Conversation with Nikki Outlaw of Anecho Coffee

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