Meet Anna Flores | Veterinary Assistant & Former Barista

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Flores and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
My inspiration for starting Ash’s Place came after working at Starbucks for some time combined with my life-long love for cats. I worked for Starbucks for a total of seven years and genuinely enjoyed most things about the job. I then ended up becoming an emergency veterinary technician as well in 2020 and worked both jobs for two years.

I came up with Ash’s Place in 2021 after putting my two career paths together; coffee and animals, specifically cats. I wanted to create something that would take the aspects I loved about both careers and Ash’s Place allows me to do just that. I can create and share unique beverage offerings, provide resources to new cat owners, and help cats find loving homes.

I initially wanted to start a cat café, something with the same vibe as a neighborhood coffee shop where you could hang out but also spend time with adoptable cats. I felt that this business would help advocate for cats, serve my community, and help relieve space constraints on humane societies and shelters.

Although a brick and mortar is what I strive for this business to flourish in to, I realized I would have to start a little smaller. I decided to start Ash’s Place as a mobile coffee shop that will promote local adoptable cats.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started working for Starbucks as a barista in 2013, it was my first long term job and I became a shift supervisor there before leaving in 2016. During that time I was also attending school to become a veterinary technician. Being a veterinary technician was all I had wanted to do since I was sixteen years old so I was determined to complete that program.

After some time away exploring other career options, I realized I really missed my old job. I was rehired at Starbucks in 2018 and was quickly promoted to a shift supervisor once again. I was also accepted into the veterinary technician program that same year.

I was then hired at my first veterinary medicine job in January of 2020 as an overnight emergency veterinary assistant. I worked both jobs for two years and it was definitely not easy. I struggled learning my new role in veterinary medicine and thought about quitting often. Despite my struggle, I knew that quitting was not an option; being a veterinary technician was all I wanted for so long and to give up because it was difficult seemed silly to me. I came up with a plan on how to develop the skills I needed to improve upon and forgave myself when I failed.

In 2021 I started developing my cat café concept, Ash’s Place, and registered as an LLC. I genuinely enjoyed both jobs and I wanted to combine both of my skill sets.

The best lessons I’ve discovered through it all is to continue learning, maintain a vision and goal, and persist through the failures and setbacks.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would probably take a weekend trip up north but before heading out we would stop at Sozo for a cinnamon bun and coffee. We would undoubtedly have to make a stop for pizza at either Pizzicletta in Flagstaff or Old County Inn, in Pine.

Once we were back in the valley I would probably take them to walk up to the Hole in the Rock in Phoenix but not before having breakfast at Eggstasy or at Two Seasons Cafe in Mesa, if we wanted a more homey vibe.

We would also do some shopping at 3rd Eye Thrift and find some good deals at Lucky Duck Dealz. Afterwards, we would of course have to treat ourselves to boba at Bobazing.

There would definitely be a night out towards the end of the trip with dinner at Durant’s or Pacino’s, depending on how fancy we were feeling. Then we would grab some cocktails at either Platform 18 or The White Rabbit.

Alternatively, if we were leaning more towards a casual experience, I would be sure to stop at Arizona Wilderness for burgers and beer or Tacos El Paisa for birria tacos and end the night at JJ Madison’s for drinks.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My significant other of almost nine years, Horst, deserves some credit for pushing me in the right direction. His experience with his own business allowed me to see my challenges through a different lens. I was thinking of my business as a place where you can hang out with cats and maybe have some coffee. However, with his insight, I was able to envision my brand as a coffee shop with the added bonus of cats. This change in perspective allowed me to think about mobile coffee sales and partnering with shelters to bring awareness to and promote their adoptable cats.

I also need to recognize my best friend of eight years, Avery, for always being open to discussion when it comes to Ash’s Place. Avery also deserves credit for drink names, recipe suggestions, and helping me with applications and contracts. His support continues to mean so much to me.

Website: https://ashsplace13.wixsite.com/website

Instagram: @ashs.place13

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashs.place13

Other: https://ashs-place-3.creator-spring.com/

Image Credits
Max Pudans for most pictures provided.