Meet Christian O’Leary of Junkies Coffee Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian O’Leary.

Hi Christian, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
In 2014, my wife Melissa and I embarked on an exciting journey by starting a mobile coffee cart. We had a dream of providing specialty coffee to people at special events. It was challenging initially, as we needed more money and loans to support us. However, our determination and hard work paid off, and our business thrived over the next five years. We increased, expanding to operate multiple coffee trailers and stands. We became a staple at major events across Phoenix, from the local Farmers Market in Peoria to the prestigious Phoenix Open Golf Tournament in Scottsdale. Serving perfect coffee to millions of people became our forte, and we took pride in being the leading coffee business in this unique industry. As we honed our skills, our popularity soared, and we found ourselves booked solid from January to July, attending one event after another. It was exhilarating, but it left us little time to rest, constantly setting up and tearing down our coffee stands rushing from one event to another.

However, everything changed on March 11, 2020. We were preparing for the Sportsman’s Expo at Westworld of Scottsdale when we heard the news on the radio – a State of Emergency had been declared due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Initially, we didn’t fully grasp the implications, but soon, store shelves were empty, and events began to get canceled. Our busy schedule came crashing down, and within a day, all the events we had lined up were gone. With no events and only a limited amount of money from the previous season, we decided to head to Florida to work with family. At the same time, we waited for the situation to improve. Unfortunately, the pandemic took a heavy toll on the special event industry, and many businesses like ours suffered. Returning to Phoenix in 2021, we were disheartened to see that only a few vendors we knew had made it through. But we didn’t give up hope. We adapted our business strategy, exploring catering opportunities to keep Junkies Coffee Co. afloat. We purchased a roaster and started roasting small-batch coffee online. With the support of our incredible customers, we managed to weather the storm. During this challenging period, we also had time to reflect on our lives and decided to pursue another dream – adopting a child.

In late 2021, we began fundraising at our weekend farmer’s market, giving out free coffee and asking customers to donate to our adoption fundraiser. Through the Both Hands organization, we raised enough funds to fulfill our dream of adoption and helped revitalize a widow’s house that needed some love. Today, we’re passionate about supporting the foster care system and adoption. Partnering with For Others, we donate 10% of each purchase of our coffee to provide life-saving resources for children in foster care. Throughout our journey, we’ve learned that challenges and obstacles are part of life, but hope’s always on the horizon. Our struggles have only made us stronger, and we’re immensely grateful for the unwavering support of our community. So, if you ever see us at an event, please come and say hi! We’d love to share our coffee with you and hear your stories. And if you’re interested in trying our freshly roasted small-batch coffee, we’d be thrilled to ship it right to your door, wherever you are! Visit our website and check out our brand-new blog at Junkiescoffee.com.

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Shut-downs and event closures put pressure on businesses within the special event industry. Growth capital is also hard to come by for seasonal, event, and gig workers. My advice is to start small, grow at your own pace, learn to adapt, and change based on demand, and you will eventually find your niche. Don’t give up, and you will succeed!

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some changes you expect to see over the next five to ten years?
There is always opportunity in the special event community. Become the best at what you do and focus on quality/volume; you will have the tools necessary to succeed in this industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: junkiescoffee.com
• Instagram: @junkiescoffeeaz
• Facebook: facebook.com/junkiescoffee

Image Credits
Images credited to Christian O’Leary & Junkies Coffee Co. (Personal photos)