Wow, NEXTies are almost here! Tram and Chelsea, we’re excited to get started! Can you tell us about your background? How did they come to Santa Cruz?
Chelsea is the daughter of Cuban refugees and was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Her cultural influence began in her home. “I may not have grown up in Cuba, but you don’t have to be born in Cuba to be Cuban. I grew up in a very Cuban household with a very Cuban family and community. ” Chelsea is inspired by the story “la isla más bella del mundo” that she was told about this beautiful island as a child. She tells the story of her great-grandmother (Labela Bonbon) and her life as a professional performer, artist, and world traveler. All matriarchs before her made unimaginable sacrifices to lay the foundation for their children to build upon. She draws inspiration from her culture’s history, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the magical. History, art, music and taste that tell the story.
She received her education in a local hospital-based RN program and has worked in a variety of specialties including clinical research trials, emergency/trauma, and intensive care. In 2017, she moved to California to work as a travel nurse. After more than 10 years of acute illness treatment, she traded her stethoscope for her espresso machine and her dreams.
“I am very fortunate to have had many wonderful and unique experiences. I have experienced what it is like to live by choice in a place other than my birthplace. I have experienced a lot of grief and sadness and what it is like to watch someone take their first breath and then their last. At the same time, I have experienced a lot of happiness, gratitude, and joy. These and many other experiences have led me here, and I couldn’t be more excited.”
Tramm moved to Santa Cruz in 2015 and started his first business, a sandwich spot. With her passion for food and her yearning for the entrepreneurial life, she collaborated with Chelsea to create a niche menu and food experience heavily influenced by the cultures of both her families. . Born in Vietnam, Tram immigrated to the United States at the age of two and spent her childhood in San Jose before moving to Davis where she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics with a double minor in communications and women’s studies. .
“Food has always been at the center of my family’s events. All my aunts love to cook and are good at it.” Tram has always had an interest in food and always researched the Food Network growing up. I dabbled in the kitchen to learn new techniques and tastes. During her time at the University of California, Davis, she worked various jobs at restaurants and held as many positions as she could in the food industry, preparing for her dream of one day running her own store. Fast forward to the pandemic era, Tram and Chelsea started working on the concept of sharing their culture’s coffee with friends, an idea that became a pop-up shop and has now expanded to their first brick-and-mortar location. We want to share the flavors and ideas that make Vietnamese and Cuban cuisine unique. My dream is to continue contributing to the community with the food and drink my family taught me.
What have you learned from each other? What do you appreciate about each other?
I learned a lot from the tram. The tram taught me what patience and grace look like. Tram taught me what hard work, discipline, and determination look like. Trams can do literally anything you set your mind to, no matter how long it takes or how difficult it is to master. Not only can you do it, but you can also be successful and excel. What I am most grateful for is that Tram Vu taught me the true meaning of friendship and sisterhood. And for that I am infinitely grateful.
Chelsea will show you what it means to truly love. She is a constant reminder of what it’s like to have her passion and to stand up for what she loves and believes in. Did she mention that she’s an emergency room nurse? You can see her determination and her work ethic. I am extremely grateful for our partnership, but most importantly, I am grateful for the opportunity to embark on this journey with one of my best friends.
What inspired the creation of Mariposa?
Coffee, camping, and connections. We met her in the summer of 2019, and as we began to get to know each other, it became very clear that coffee was a huge part of our personal upbringings and cultures. We continued to bond over our love of food, coffee, and the outdoors. It wasn’t until 2020 that we sat down to talk about our individual journeys and it felt like we were both stuck. Tram had reached its full growth potential with the sandwich spot and needed a new creative venture.
Burnt out, Chelsea recalled a time when she considered investing in a food truck but didn’t have any potential business partners with experience in the industry.
That’s when we got the idea to test pop-ups.
What skills did you bring to Mariposa and what did you have to learn and overcome?
The freedom to pursue our own dreams, make our own rules and create without boundaries. We both have dreams that are too big to fulfill someone else’s goals. The road to entrepreneurship is very difficult, but it’s worth it.
What do you do every day as an entrepreneur?
Tram says, “Get some sleep.” Honestly, we live and breathe Mariposa, but we strive to maintain a balance between work and all other aspects of life.
Chelsea: I remind myself that I can’t accomplish everything in one day. Check in with myself and others. Simple things like making sure you stay hydrated and nourished. I make sure to get out there, breathe, and take it one step at a time.
What are the challenges and benefits of being a female entrepreneur?
Finding work-life balance is probably the biggest challenge at this stage of our journey. If you’ve ever stopped by and seen a toddler running around the store or a pit bull sunbathing on the sidewalk, you’ve just gotten a glimpse of what our lives are like. Becoming a business owner already requires an incredible amount of time and energy. The tram had a baby, we birthed a business, and we started building a whole new life from scratch.
And of course, accessing and raising capital can be a challenge, especially for women-owned businesses. This is especially true when proposing ideas that may violate society’s expectations.
Thankfully, we have an amazing community that supports us every step of the way. We couldn’t have done this without them, so we are very grateful. We wouldn’t have done it without all of our friends, family, and community members who helped with building, planting, painting, cleaning, vacuuming, moving furniture, loading and unloading cars (to name just a few). Dew. Not where we are today.
What advice would you give to people interested in entrepreneurship?
Nurture your idea, work on it consistently, and understand that the return on investment may not be immediate. Be willing to commit and be consistent. Things don’t always have to be perfect and you need to learn from every challenge and mistake.
How does Santa Cruz influence your activities? What are the benefits and challenges of working in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz reminds us to slow down, get some fresh air, and soak up some sunshine. We are lucky to work and live in a place that most people go on vacation. On the other hand, the cost of living here is incredibly high, making it financially difficult for local businesses during the off-season.
What aspirations do you have for yourself?
We want more time for ourselves, our friends, and our families. And we want to continue building fulfilling lives.
We have more sunshine, warmth, and time outdoors.
Is there anything else I should know about you two or about Mariposa or what’s going on with you?
Tram’s Kitchen Sink is a monthly pop-up dinner focused on unique dining experiences on the last Monday of each month. For example, we have hosted hot pot dinners, dinner and movie experiences, and more.
We’re always dreaming and creating, and we’ll be hosting more community events soon, so follow us on Instagram (@mariposa_coffeebar) to stay up to date. We also have a website!
thank you. That’s all for questions. Grab your tickets to NEXTies and come say hello to them and the other notable activists and shakers at this year’s NEXTies Awards on May 17th! See you soon!
