We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Danielle Henry. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Danielle below.
Danielle , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
The Biggest Risk I Ever Took: Turning a Dream Into a Family Business
When I graduated with my Master’s in Healthcare Management, I was filled with ambition and excitement for the future. But amidst that excitement, there was something else growing inside me—my desire to be more present with my growing family. At that point, I had one son, and I knew that, eventually, I wanted more kids. But the fast-paced, demanding career I was on would mean spending long hours away from home. The thought of missing out on those precious early years with my kids didn’t sit well with me.
So, I made a decision that many might have considered crazy: I decided to take a huge risk and pivot from the healthcare field to something entirely different. We had no roadmap for it, but the idea felt right. My husband and I used our savings—our safety net as a young family—and bought our first coffee trailer in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was pregnant with our second child when we launched our brand, and the uncertainty of the pandemic only added to the challenge. I remember feeling both terrified and excited at the same time. Would people even want coffee during a global crisis? Would we be able to make ends meet? But despite all the fears, we believed in the vision, and we were willing to take that leap.
And to our amazement, it worked. Our coffee trailer became a local favorite in our neighborhood. It didn’t take long before the business began to grow faster than we anticipated. What was originally a small coffee cart quickly evolved into a larger trailer. A year later, we opened our first brick-and-mortar store—something we hadn’t even planned for.
The decision to open a store felt like another big risk, but with the support of our loyal customers and the hard work we put in, it paid off. Today, we’re not just operating one store, but two. We’ve expanded into food trucks and a coffee cart. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come, but the journey has been nothing short of amazing.
Looking back, I’m so grateful for the risk I took. It hasn’t always been easy, and there have been countless sleepless nights and moments of doubt. But I love what I do. I’m able to be home more with my family, and we’ve built something together that we’re proud of. The risk was worth it, and it’s a reminder that sometimes the biggest leaps can lead to the most rewarding outcomes.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
About Me and My Journey
Hi there! I’m Danielle Henry, and I’m the founder of The Bean Bar Company, a local coffee company that’s grown from a small coffee trailer to multiple stores, food trucks, and a coffee cart—each designed to bring quality, locally sourced coffee to the people in our community. But my journey here wasn’t exactly a straight line.
I began my career by earning a master’s degree in Healthcare Management. I had big dreams of climbing the corporate ladder, but as my family grew, my priorities began to shift. I found myself wanting to spend more time at home with my kids while still building something meaningful. That’s when I decided to take a massive leap and switch careers entirely. I used our savings to buy a coffee trailer—a risk that felt like a big leap at the time, especially during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With no formal background in the coffee industry, I relied on my passion, determination, and a clear vision of the life I wanted for my family. I was pregnant with our second child when we launched our first trailer, and from there, things took off faster than I could have ever imagined.
We started small, with a single coffee trailer in our neighborhood, but the response from the community was overwhelming. People loved our coffee, the convenience, and the sense of local pride we created. It didn’t take long before we expanded to a larger trailer, then our first store. Now, with two stores, two food trucks, and a coffee cart, we’re proud to be serving our community with top-notch coffee and a welcoming environment.
What We Offer and How We Stand Out
At The Bean Bar Co., we’re passionate about offering more than just great coffee. We’re dedicated to building a brand that’s rooted in community, quality, and convenience. We aim to not only deliver great drinks but also an experience that makes people feel connected to the neighborhood.
The thing that sets us apart is our commitment to being present in people’s lives. We didn’t just open a business; we built a space that reflects the values we care about—family, hard work, and community. Whether it’s at one of our stores, in a food truck at a local event, or with our mobile coffee cart, we’re always striving to make people’s day a little brighter.
What I’m Most Proud Of
What I’m most proud of is how far we’ve come and how our business has grown while maintaining our core values. From starting with a small trailer in the middle of a pandemic to now operating multiple locations and serving hundreds of customers daily, it’s been a rewarding journey. But beyond the numbers, I’m proud of the relationships we’ve built with our customers and the community. We’ve become a staple for so many people, and that’s something I truly value.
What I Want People to Know
If you’re considering stopping by one of our locations, or following us on social media, I want you to know that you’re supporting more than just a coffee shop. You’re supporting a business that was built on taking risks, working hard, and always putting our customers first. We’re not just about serving coffee; we’re about creating an experience that connects people to each other, to their community, and to something greater.
Thank you for being part of our journey. I’m excited about where we’re headed, and I hope you’ll join us as we continue to grow and serve you the best coffee around!
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
My business partner is actually my brother, and our partnership has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this journey. We’ve known each other our whole lives (of course!), but it wasn’t until I decided to take the leap into the coffee industry that we truly teamed up professionally.
When I first had the idea of starting a coffee business, I knew it was a big risk, and I didn’t want to face it alone. I reached out to my brother because I knew he had the skills, drive, and passion that could complement my own. From the very beginning, we shared the vision of building something meaningful for our family, while also creating something special for our community. He didn’t hesitate to jump in, and we both worked hard to get our first coffee trailer off the ground.
What I love about working with my brother is that we balance each other out. He brings a different set of skills and perspectives that have been invaluable to the business. We’re able to play off each other’s strengths—whether it’s dealing with the logistics, managing day-to-day operations, or just brainstorming new ideas for the business. Our partnership has truly made this journey more rewarding and has kept us motivated even during the toughest times.
Having a business partner who is also family has its challenges, but the trust and support we share make it all worth it. We’ve been able to navigate this adventure together, growing our business while maintaining a close relationship as siblings.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
The journey of building our coffee business has been filled with challenges, but it’s also been about honoring the values that were instilled in us by our father—values that have kept us going even in the hardest of times.
In February of 2022, we lost our father, a man who raised both my brother and me to be entrepreneurs and hard workers. He believed in the power of persistence, in the idea that you should always work hard for what you want and never let setbacks define you. Growing up, we saw him face many challenges, and through it all, he never gave up. He taught us that success doesn’t come overnight, and that the road to building something meaningful is paved with grit, resilience, and the courage to keep pushing forward.
When we decided to take the risk of starting our coffee business, we were in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a time of uncertainty, and I was pregnant with our second child, but there was something deep inside us that kept saying, “This is the right move.” Our father’s lessons echoed in our minds: “If you want something, you have to go after it—even when it feels impossible.”
That belief in resilience is what carried us through the toughest days. The early months of the business were incredibly hard. We faced financial pressure, the challenge of starting a new business in the middle of a global crisis, and the constant balancing act of being a parent while trying to build something from the ground up. It was overwhelming at times, but we kept pushing forward, knowing that our father’s spirit was with us—guiding us.
I remember days when we’d feel like giving up, wondering if we were doing the right thing. But then we’d think of our father and how he would’ve handled the same challenges. He’d never back down. He’d never give up on something he believed in. So, neither did we. With every obstacle, we found a way to adapt, to work harder, and to learn from our mistakes. Slowly but surely, we began to see the rewards of that perseverance.
Today, as we run two stores, two food trucks, and a coffee cart, we do it with our father’s teachings at the forefront of everything we do. We’re building this business not just for ourselves, but in honor of him. Every success, every customer who walks through our door, every new milestone—it’s a testament to the work ethic, the resilience, and the entrepreneurial spirit he instilled in us.
Losing our father was the hardest thing we’ve ever faced, but his legacy lives on in the way we work, the way we approach challenges, and the way we never back down from the tough moments. He taught us that success isn’t just about the destination—it’s about the journey, the work you put in, and the resilience you show in the face of adversity.
We’re proud to carry that legacy forward, knowing that we’re not only building a business but honoring the values that made us who we are today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beanbarco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beanbar_co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebeanbarco/
Image Credits
@threesixtyviews Instagram