There is a new spark in the retail scene of Grayslake, 40 miles north of Chicago, that is giving its customers a jolt of energy. Yhana Boba Cafe is owned by Anahy Hernandez, whose name spelled backward is “Yhana,” and a catalyst for her first business as a retailer.

“Boba tea is a traditionally a Taiwanese drink. At Yhana Boba Cafe, we serve it a little differently,” said Anahy with a smile. “We’re infusing a Latin twist with a lot of spicy flavors like Chamoy, Tajin, and a lot of traditionally Hispanic flavors like horchata or mangonadas.”

Boba has grown from a niche import to a nearly billion-dollar industry in the United States and enjoys an especially strong following among millennials and Gen-Z consumers. Boba tea was developed in the 1980’s and is traditionally made with milk, tea, and chewy tapioca pearls. The pearls have a gummy, chewy texture, similar to what you would find in tapioca pudding. Over time, boba cafes have gotten creative with the drinks they serve, experimenting with variations such coffee boba or milk tea boba.

“I came up with this idea (for Yhana Boba Cafe), actually, on a whim. I wanted to open up a coffee shop at first, but boba tea just seems a lot more attractive and a lot more doable,” explained Anahy. “I feel like in recent years, it’s been super popular everywhere. So, getting all the resources, finding out how to do it and how to open up a shop just came a lot easier.”

A family affair

Anahy took a less traditional path to retail ownership. After receiving a two-year community college associate degree, she felt she had enough of a post-high school education to pursue her dreams of owning a business.

“Owning a business in general was something I really wanted to do and strive for in the future. The opportunity arose, and I went for it.”

Anahy said the inspiration for her cafe came from a lifelong love of boba tea.

“I grew up drinking it, whenever we went to the mall with my parents. When it came time to exploring different flavors and everything, it was very easy. I was a very big boba tea fan.”

Anahy said unwavering support from her family turned out to be instrumental to the founding of Yhana Boba Cafe. She grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. Her mother had owned a restaurant. Her sister owns a boutique salon, and her brother used to sell vintage.

“Seeing the way they lived and made it work, I realized that working for yourself at the end of the day just was lovely,” Anahy stated. “My mom immigrated from El Salvador when she was around 18 or 19. My dad immigrated here from Mexico when he was around 14, 15. So, I am a first generation in the United States. But growing up in that immigrant household really introduced me to the difference between an Americanized world and the immigrant household.”

It was her cultural heritage and standards that Anahy adopted in creating Yhana Boba Cafe. Many of the recipes her parents handed down to her can be found in the delicious drinks served up at her cafe.

“I really loved taking the spicy flavors from my dad’s side or the fruity flavors from my mom’s side,” Anahy said with a smile describing her unique boba teas.

Boba: Talk of the town

Anahy is the sole owner of Yhana Boba Cafe, but she is quick to credit her family for her initial success.

From event planning to recipe testing, each family member plays a role at the cafe. Anahy’s sister organizes gatherings, her brother experiments with new drink creations, and her mom pitches in as an extra hand.

“My mom helps behind the counter, making sure things are put back where they’re supposed to be or handing out drinks to customers,” Anahy stressed while noting that the support of her family serves as emotional backbone of her business. “To this day, I still can’t do it without them. I think it’s not just in the physical labor, but that pat on the back saying, ‘You got this,’ has been a big help having them in my corner.”

More than just a boba shop, Yhana Boba Cafe is designed to be community space where anyone can connect.

“I want to be known for a place where adults and kids can come together, grab a board game, or get together with friends and enjoy boba,” Anahy explained. “Nowadays, we’ve lost that to phones or electronics. After COVID, a lot of people shifted to virtual hangouts,” observed Anahy. “I think reintroducing communal spaces will get kids and adults out of the house.”

As a young, first-time business owner, Anahy conceded that she faced her share of challenges.

“I knew the basic dos and don’ts from growing up around entrepreneurs. But the permits and documentation caught me for a loop,” admitted Anahy. “That was the hardest part. But once everything was approved and construction finished, it was pretty much fair game from there.”

Now, despite the long hours, Anahy cherishes her independence.

“I get here in the morning and when I leave at night, I have that moment of thinking ‘I’m very fortunate to be able to work on my own,’” reflected Anahy. “The beautiful side is that a lot of people see you working on your own, making money for yourself, creating something that’s yours. The other part of it of it is you never get a day off and you’re here 24-7.”

To spread the word, Anahy effectively uses social media and it’s paid off.

“I’ve put a lot of my info on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok,” explained Anahy. “It’s helped me reach not just Grayslake and Lake County but also McHenry and Cook County. Seeing where people are coming from has been amazing.”

Anahy said that she can see her hard work paying off as more people stop in to enjoy Yhana Boba Cafe.

“I think Yhana Boba matters because it’s a little drop of color in such a black and white town,” explained Anahy. “In Grayslake there are so many businesses and different things you can get. You can walk down the street, buy a book and get your nails done, literally door to door to door. It’s very service based. There are twelve hair salons here in Grayslake. So, just having that little bit of diversity I feel is very important.”

“There’s a lot of traditional brick and mortar here in Grayslake and I’m glad that I can offer that international flair.”

Anahy may be a younger business owner, and yet she has a full serving wisdom to offer others chasing their own entrepreneurial dreams.

“I love retail because I’ve worked in it my whole life. I don’t think I’ve worked a job other than retail,” smile Anahy. “It’s just something about selling an item and being able to give that satisfaction to a customer and that’s amazing.”