Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Keophilavanh.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
For over a decade, I lived the corporate life—chasing titles, chasing stability, chasing a version of success I thought I was supposed to want. And for a while, I convinced myself it was enough. But deep down, something felt missing. Like I was building someone else’s dream… and calling it mine. Then my wife said something simple that changed everything: “What if we did something else?” We didn’t have a perfect plan. We didn’t even know what “something else” looked like. We just knew we were meant to create something of our own—something we could pour our hearts into and be proud of.
One day, we walked into Junbi Matcha & Tea, and the world felt brighter. Yellow walls like sunlight. Music that made the room feel alive. People laughing, gathering, staying a little longer than they planned—like the space was holding them.
We saw a franchising brochure and joked, “Wouldn’t it be cool to own a Junbi?” But beneath the joke was a dream trying to wake up. We researched, we learned, we hesitated. Life got loud. The dream got quiet. Until an unexpected opportunity through our family reminded us what it means to bet on something real. It lit a fire in me. And when we finally felt ready, the universe met us halfway.
A Junbi email. One line that felt like a door opening: Junbi Matcha & Tea in Richardson is looking for new owners.
My wife looked at me and I already knew. This was it. We moved fast, hearts racing, trusting the timing, trusting the feeling that kept pulling us forward. And just like that… what started as a dream turned into reality.
We’re now the proud owners of Junbi Matcha & Tea in Richardson—the first in the Metroplex.
And this time, we’re not climbing someone else’s ladder. We’re building our own.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Have you ever driven through DFW and thought… do smooth roads even exist? Because for us, this journey has been nothing but turns, potholes, detours, and learning how to keep going anyway. From funding… to ownership… to growing into people we didn’t even recognize yet—nothing about this was easy. It felt like the universe kept testing us, asking over and over: How bad do you want it?
Sometimes I still don’t know what would’ve been harder—building a store from the ground up, or stepping into one that already existed and trying to bring it back to life. Because the truth is, the hardest part wasn’t the trying to find the funds or the paperwork. It was winning the community’s heart again.
When Junbi first opened in May 2021, there was hype—something new, something exciting, something Dallas hadn’t seen before. But hype fades. And when it does… traffic fades with it. For most people, Junbi didn’t feel like a place they belonged to anymore. It just… existed.
We’re not the type to chase the spotlight. We’ve always believed the staff and the product should speak for themselves. But we also knew something deeper: If we wanted this to grow, we had to show up. Every day. No matter what. So we did.
I was there from open to close everyday—learning the day-to-day, learning the systems, learning how to fix things when they break, learning how to lead, learning how to serve people with patience even when I was running on empty.
Because nobody talks about the thousand tiny things it takes to keep a business alive. The behind-the-scenes work. The constant problem-solving. The pressure of keeping the lights on… while still trying to make people feel seen. And it takes a
toll. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally.
Because I knew if I couldn’t keep my staff taken care of, we couldn’t take care of the community. And day after day, it was the same rhythm: Show up. Grind. Learn. Repeat.
Even on “off days,” there weren’t really off days. Just quieter days filled with admin work, emails, numbers, and decisions that nobody else sees—but everything depends on.
There were moments I questioned reality again. Did I make the right choice? Is this really what I wanted?
And those thoughts will visit you—more times than you expect. But you don’t let them move in. You acknowledge them, you breathe, and you keep going. Day by day. Because we chose this. And more importantly… we get to do this. That’s the part we have to remind ourselves of when things feel heavy. It’s a blessing. And that reminder is what keeps the fire alive.
I’m grateful for how far we’ve come… and for everything we survived to get here. But this is just only the beginning.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Junbi Matcha & Tea
Junbi was founded by a team of two couples (four best friends: June, Dan, Anna & Jeremy)
who seek to create a movement that draws on the strength of the earth, delivering energy and goodness through matcha, to help you prepare daringly to push your limits and
walk your own path.
Junbi translates to “preparation” in Japanese. Everything we do is in preparation to serve our customers the best product, customer service, and experience. We spend time vetting the farms in Japan and growing, harvesting, and milling the matcha itself takes tremendous preparation. We also want to help you Prepare Daringly for your days, goals, and wildest dreams.
Prepare Daringly. It’s our motto. Prepare Daringly means to break free from your routine, to step outside your comfort zone, to reach further for your goals, and to take on the challenges
you’ve been working toward.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
To know what matters most… I had to learn who I am. Not the version of me people see on the surface—
but the quieter, more intimate side. The part that feels everything deeply, even when I don’t always show it.
Growing up, I was always the one who thought to lend a hand. The one who listened. The one who tried to make people laugh. The one who would give what I had, even if it meant I went without. And deep down, I’ve always believed this: I was put on this Earth to help people.
That’s a mission I’m still walking through. Still learning. Still becoming.
And with Junbi… I was given a platform. Not just a café. Not just a business. But a space where I can pour into others. A place where influence can turn into inspiration.
Whether it’s our staff learning how to grow into themselves… or a customer who walks in carrying the weight of their day… or a friend we haven’t seen in months who stops by just to show love—I’m here. We’re here.
And no, it won’t always come out in a perfect speech or some big emotional moment. Sometimes it’s smaller than that. Sometimes it’s just a warm greeting. A smile. A drink made with care. A moment where someone feels seen. But even that… feels like purpose.
This has always been the vision. And it’s the same vision I try to pass on to our team—so that when we move together, aligned in purpose, we can create something bigger than ourselves. Something that reaches past the cups and the menu.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what this is really about: Helping each other. Holding each other up. Spreading peace and love… one cup of matcha at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://junbishop.com/
- Instagram: @junbirichardson
