The sweet smell of brewed coffee and tea filled the air as I walked into the small shop located on Main Street in Greensburg across the street from the County Courthouse. Behind the counter was the owner Justin Aion, greeting me with a smile. As I began my interview, it became clear that Honeybee Bubble Tea was more than just a place to grab a drink.
Honeybee Bubble Tea has been active in Greensburg for slightly over a year, but they also operate in a drink truck that has been functional for over two years for local festivals and community events. This new location is ideal because they are in walking distance from Seton Hill and middle schools.
The owners story is unique as he explained that “On a vacation, a few years ago, my two teenage daughters had five Bubble Teas in the span of three days”. Justin made joke, as any parent would, about how it would be cheaper for him to just open up a place of his own instead of always buying it. This joke soon unraveled into a family business.
Justin saw a need in Greensburg where many bars and restaurants exist, but there is no place for kids to come and enjoy themselves. The vision for Honeybee Bubble Tea was a place to feel comfortable and to hangout and “exist”. Justin says “I wanted to offer a community space that had things kids wanted along with a safe and welcoming environment”.
Before Justin decided to take on this business, he was a middle school math teacher for 15 years which has helped him tremendously. “The qualities that have helped me the most has been understanding the way kids exist in the world… I wanted to have a place for them and understand what they want in the world”.
In becoming a business owner, he said, “Make sure your actions align with your goals”. He says that if the goal is to make money, people need to do profitable things, but that was not his primary goal. The goal for Honeybee Bubble Tea is to create a space for children in the community. The goal for a business will vary the next steps to take for success.
“Knowing your goals and what limits you have is the best way for business success,” says Justin. We are so thankful so this sweet spot to share the tea!
Instagram- @honeybeebubbletea
