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Colombia brews business success with Inza coffee shop

Culture, passion and flavor are the ingredients poured into every cup of java at Inza Coffee. And for co-owner Linda Gomez, pouring heart and soul into a business comes naturally.

Born in Bucaramanga, Colombia, Gomez grew up in the family hardware store business and picked up her entrepreneurial edge at an early age. Upon moving to the U.S. at the age of 17, Gomez was surrounded by the restaurant and food business and would spend the next 11 years trying her hand in the corporate world, which resulted in a permanent move to Arizona at age 28.

But for Gomez, owning her own business was in her blood, and she knew it. And that inclination would lead her, nearly nine years later, to her dream.

"My husband, Wilson, and I, were thrown every obstacle in the book, but I looked at opening my own business as a challenge that I knew was meant to be," says Gomez, 37.

With an unwavering determination, Gomez opened her mind to a world of possibilities and was referred by a friend to look into a coffee shop for sale. Surprisingly, what she thought would be a grueling process turned out to be a painless business venture. A month later, with the help of her husband and co-owner Gerardo "Tuto" Villarraga, the Scottsdale shop was reborn as INZA Coffee and opened their doors to the public. That was just a few months ago.

Villarraga, Gomez’ 25-year-old cousin, shares her optimism.

"I always wanted to see something happen for my family, and this shop made that dream a reality," says Villarraga, who also holds a full-time job as a designer at a local civil engineering firm.

Committed to offering the best tasting coffees from around the world, Gomez and Villarraga agree that Inza coffee represents culture and family.

Inza, located in the southern part of Colombia, is known by many professional "cuppers" of the world as a region that produces some of Colombia’s most enjoyable coffees. Gomez’ love for coffee and her culture resulted in an easy choice of names.

In addition to serving Colombian, Peruvian, Costa Rican and Guatemalan coffees, among others, Inza also offers weekly jazz, folk guitar and tango night entertainment. Customers can also take advantage of the shop’s free wireless internet service.

Besides the coffees sold, Gomez says Inza’s atmosphere is much like her family’s Columbian culture. The shop is a gathering place of friends and extends a friendly feeling of unity and togetherness.

"In my culture, we are all very big fans of one another and fans of our country," she says. "We strive to pass on and share a little bit of the Colombian culture through our products..."

And though both Gomez and Villarraga would eventually like to see INZA expand to other Valley locations, both say they would like to keep the authenticity that they are both proud of.

As for dreaming big, Gomez says it’s quite simple.

"Never let anyone tell you something is impossible…everything you put into your head is possible. Only that which is impossible is coming back from the dead!"

INZA COFFEE
8658 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale
(480) 222-4890
Thursdays: Jazz Jam, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., featuring Subterranean Jazz
(http://www.subjazz.com)
Saturdays: Acoustic Sounds, 9 a.m. – noon, featuring classic folk rock guitar
Sundays: Matinee Milonga, 2 – 6 p.m., featuring tango dancing