From Startup to Setback—and Beyond: The Journey of Ichiraku Ramen House
In August 2024, two friends separated by continents shared a common dream—to create something that reflected their passion for good food, community, and creative freedom. I was living abroad at the time, but that didn’t stop me and my close friend back home from dreaming big. Through countless calls, plans, and shared energy, Ichiraku Ramen House was born.
By early September, we had turned that dream into reality. On September 6, 2024, we opened the doors of Ichiraku Ramen House with the vision of offering a fresh, exciting ramen experience in our hometown.
A Powerful Start
The response was heartwarming. From day one, people loved what we built—our vibe, the food, the warmth, and the little anime-inspired details.
November and December 2024 were our peak months. We could feel the buzz—customers were lining up, sharing stories online, and coming back for more. It felt like we had built something special, and we were just getting started.
The Calm After the Storm
As 2025 began, the initial hype slowed. Sales weren’t as high, but we stayed grounded. We adjusted, optimized costs, experimented with offerings, and focused on keeping the experience consistent.
Even during these slower months, we were proud of how we kept the business lean and profitable.
A Sudden Setback
In March 2025, everything changed. A serious disagreement occurred between our property owner and my co-founder and friend who was running the restaurant on-ground. It escalated beyond repair, and we were given just 30 days to vacate the space we had built with so much love.
It was a painful blow. We had poured our hearts, time, and savings into this place. Seeing it come to a forced halt was difficult—but it also reminded us of something important: this was just a space, not the spirit of Ichiraku.
What’s Next for Ichiraku
We’re now actively searching for a new home for Ichiraku Ramen House—a place where we can revive that energy and bring our community back together.
This isn’t the end of our story. It’s a new beginning.
Ichiraku Ramen House was always more than a restaurant. It was a symbol of two friends chasing a shared vision, building something from scratch, and refusing to quit—even when the odds hit hard.
We’re coming back—with better ideas, stronger resolve, and the same love for ramen and community that started it all.
What’s the true Purpose of a Business?
It all begins with an idea.
To Make money, To make profit- that’s what almost everybody says but NO. The purpose of a business really is to create and keep a customer. if you create and keep a sufficient number of customers in a cost effective way, the result will be a profit.
The number one reason for business failure is low sales, the number one reason for business success is high sales.
The ability to create and keep customers is the key. you can find all the successful bussinesses, everybody thinks about creating and keeping customers.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.