Cafe Blanca

A quest for originality and innovation prompted three friends to open a business that, at its heart, is about creative development. Derek Ho, Jacqueline Vo, and Andrew Phan combined their talents to open Café Blanca in Eau Claire. “Blanca means white. It’s meant to signify a blank slate, a blank canvas,” says Derek. “It’s a place where ideas are welcome, whether in a half-baked thought or a fully thought out idea it doesn’t matter, it’s a place to help develop and germinate ideas for them to nurture and grow.”

Derek’s background is in creative advertising, Jacqueline’s is in finance and Andrew is a successful entrepreneur. They were discussing what kind of environment would foster their own personal passions and came up with a business plan for Café Blanca. “It came about as a vision and an extension of something that all three of us have all been excited about – which is creativity, music and the heart of creative development,” says Derek.