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Growing up biracial in the Midwest, Hannah Foy always felt caught between worlds—not white enough, not Chinese enough, never quite fitting into either box. That feeling followed her through restaurants, bars, and coffee shops during her years in the service industry, where she witnessed firsthand how businesses could lose sight of what mattered most: treating people with dignity.
Now, as she prepares to open Lau Lau, a specialty coffee shop rooted in Asian American culture in Austin, Texas, Hannah is creating the inclusive community space she always wished existed. Named after her mother’s Chinese family name, Lau Lau represents more than just another café—it’s a love letter to mixed identity, authentic flavors, and values-driven business.
“This is really allowing me to take all of that and put it on display and also bring other people into that world and say, ‘This is a space that we can be in, and we can really embrace,’ ” Hannah explains. “So far, we’ve seen a ton of support for that, so that’s really exciting.”
Carving out a niche in a crowded field
People often ask Hannah what makes a coffee shop “Asian American,” expecting perhaps Vietnamese coffee or boba tea. But Hannah’s vision goes deeper than specific beverages—it’s about creating familiar experiences with nostalgic flavors that tell a broader story.
“Really, what we’re doing is just taking a specialty coffee shop experience that people are familiar with,” she says, “but rather than having the flavors that you always see, even just like a vanilla latte kind of thing, we’ll introduce some more flavors that maybe are more nostalgic for other people.”
Picture walking into Lau Lau on a crisp Austin morning. Instead of reaching for the usual vanilla latte, you might order a Chinese five-spice latte—warming, complex, and unlike anything else in the city. Instead of grabbing a croissant, you could pair your coffee with a traditional egg tart, sourced from a local Chinese restaurant that Hannah specifically chose for its family-run values.
“Nothing that’s so out of the ordinary, but definitely introducing some new things for some and also calling back that familiarity, that comfort for another group of people,” Hannah says.
Strong values, nontraditional investments
In an industry where growth often comes at the cost of values, Hannah has chosen a different path entirely. Rather than seeking investors who might pressure her to compromise on her people-first philosophy, she’s funding Lau Lau through community contributions, small business loans, and nontraditional, donation-based investment crowdfunding.
“Everything is really coming from the support of the community because it’s so important to me that our values are always first,” she says. “I don’t want to have an investor involved that’s going to tell me that I can’t actually keep that front and center.”
This commitment extends to every aspect of her business planning. Hannah took courses at Austin Community College and worked with People Fund, a local organization that provides both business advising and loans. She even attended an intensive three-day program at Texas Coffee School, soaking up everything from coffee preparation to business operations.
But perhaps most importantly, she’s building relationships with vendors who share her values—prioritizing small businesses, local makers, and companies that are transparent about their ethics. “I don’t like to work with anyone when I can’t find out about their values,” Hannah says.
The grant that opened new possibilities
As a winner of an Open With Faire grant, Hannah got not just financial support but also access to a platform that aligned perfectly with her values-driven approach to sourcing. The grant has been transformative, allowing her to think beyond just stocking her kitchen to expanding into retail products that complement her vision.
“Winning this Faire grant has been really big for me to be able to think about not only the things that I had planned, like stocking for behind the bar, but also the chili oils and nut butters and things like that to expand into more retail in general,” she explains.
This expansion feels natural to Hannah, who describes herself as someone who can’t walk into a gift shop without buying five cards “so that I have a card for any occasion.” She envisions Lau Lau as a one-stop destination where customers can grab their morning coffee alongside pantry staples, art, and gifts—all carefully curated to reflect her commitment to supporting small makers.
Finding brands with shared values
While many businesses rely on traditional trade shows or sales representatives, Hannah has found a different way to discover products that align with her vision. Faire’s value filters have become essential to her sourcing strategy, allowing her to identify Asian-owned and woman-owned businesses that give back.
“I really love those value tags,” she says. “It’s nice to me to know that that’s as important to these makers and these businesses as it is to me. I’m really using those.”
Take Diaspora Co., a single-origin spice company she discovered on Faire. Not only will Hannah use its spices in Lau Lau’s recipes, but she also plans to sell its consumer tins so customers can experience the same quality at home. “I would love to sell their tins to say that this is a great product. You can see it. We use it.”
This transparency—letting customers see and taste exactly what goes into their drinks—reflects Hannah’s broader philosophy about honest business practices.
Organized chaos in a construction zone
Running a business before the brick-and-mortar location opens presents unique challenges, especially when your space is currently a construction zone with holes in the floor for plumbing. That’s where Faire’s organizational features have become invaluable.
“I have really loved that you can save things to different categories and save things to different boards in Faire,” Hannah says. “Here are the things that I’m saving for equipment. Here are the things that I’m saving for our menu. Here are the things that I’m saving for art.”
These digital boards allow Hannah to plan every aspect of her space—from kitchen equipment to artwork for her gallery wall—without the pressure of immediate purchasing decisions. When construction finally wraps up and she can actually receive shipments, everything will be organized and ready to order.
“That’s been so helpful for me to organize my brain,” she says.
Flexible terms and countless possibilities
As a solo entrepreneur funding her business through community support rather than venture capital, Hannah appreciates Faire’s flexible payment terms. The traditional wholesale model—requiring immediate payment upon ordering—would have made it nearly impossible to stock her shop while managing construction costs and other start-up expenses.
Perhaps most importantly for a busy entrepreneur managing every aspect of her business alone, Faire consolidates what could otherwise be dozens of vendor relationships into one streamlined experience.
“Using Faire means I don’t have to set up a bunch of different accounts and keep track of it all,” says Hannah. “I can just go on there, and I have all of my vendors favorited and organized.”
Building community before the first cup
While construction continues and opening day approaches, Hannah remains focused on the deeper purpose behind Lau Lau—creating a space where people feel valued, seen, and welcomed regardless of which “box” they might or might not fit into.
“I want them to feel valued,” she says about future customers. “I think that that’s a big part of this too.”
Every detail reflects this intention, from the Chinese family seal incorporated into the logo to the carefully curated selection of Asian and Asian American makers whose products will line the shelves. “I want them to see that all of our details are intentional, that this isn’t me taking the easiest route for anything. I really am making everything as intentional as possible.”
Hannah’s vision extends far beyond serving great coffee. She’s thinking about the legacy she wants to build—both for her community and for the industry she’s been part of for years.
The future of intentional business
Hannah’s approach to building Lau Lau offers a blueprint for values-driven entrepreneurship in an industry often focused on rapid growth and profit maximization. By prioritizing community funding over investor capital, ethical sourcing over profit margins, and authentic connection over trendy marketing, she’s proving that businesses can succeed while staying true to their founding principles.
When Lau Lau opens its doors this summer, customers won’t just be getting exceptional coffee and pastries—they’ll be experiencing the culmination of one entrepreneur’s commitment to creating the inclusive, values-driven business she always wished existed. With tools like Faire supporting her vision, Hannah is building more than a coffee shop; she’s creating a community where everyone can feel at home.
Ready to build your own values-driven business? Sign up for Open With Faire today and discover wholesale products that align with your vision.
