"When I opened my first coffee shop, I joked that the name Lac Em meant 'drifting into tranquility'. Little did I know that when we opened the second branch, the shop would truly drift due to storms", said Nguyen Hieu, co-founder of Lac Em coffee shop.

The second branch, located in Thai Ha, opened in August 2024 and faced three consecutive storms within one month: Ragasa on 26/8, Bualoi on 30/9, and Matmo on 7/10.

Lac Em coffee shop flooded when storm Matmo hit Hanoi. Photo: Supplied

After three storms brought heavy rain and deep flooding, the shop suffered significant damage. Water surged 60-90 cm high, damaging equipment, tables, chairs, and walls, leading to mold. Each time, the shop had to close for 4-5 days for thorough cleaning before reopening.

Thanh Hoai, owner of a coffee shop in Ha Dong ward, even joked with her husband, "Maybe we should rename the shop 'Storm'," after experiencing continuous storms since opening. Hoai recalled that in 2024, her shop had been open for 15 days when super typhoon Yagi made landfall. After over one year of operation, Hoai has lost count of how many times the shop had to close to clean up mud, dirt, and pump out floodwater caused by storms.

"Repair costs are high, plus operating expenses and staff salaries; sometimes I felt discouraged and wanted to close", Thanh Hoai shared. However, she was fortunate to have her husband's support, who even "poured" in additional capital, allowing the shop to continue operations.

To Linh, owner of V101 Coffee Space in Geleximco An Khanh urban area, Tay Mo, shares the same struggle with storms as Hieu and Thanh Hoai. Her shop, covering over 100 m2 and accommodating up to 50 customers, opened on 11/7. Since its opening, Linh's shop has faced four storms.

On 7/10, storm Matmo brought all-day rain, causing the area around the shop to flood over 0,5 meter deep and paralyzing traffic for hours. Water poured into the shop, submerging table legs and damaging interior furnishings.

To Linh's coffee shop flooded due to storm Matmo. Photo: Supplied

"Flooding not only causes material damage but also immense mental pressure for me, especially since I just opened the shop", To Linh stated.

After each flood, Linh and her staff spend 1-2 days pumping out mud, disinfecting floors, treating damp furniture, and repairing the electrical system. The owner noted that these costs are "not small".

The coffee shop before being flooded. Photo: Supplied

Drink prices at the shop range from 30.000 to 70.000 VND. Photo: Supplied

Speaking about the shop's incidents, Hieu expressed a mix of emotions, "laughing and crying," as he received continuous inquiries and concern from customers and friends. Having experienced several storms, before Matmo made landfall, Hieu proactively worked with his staff to use wooden planks to block water, elevate furniture, and cut off electricity, which reduced cleanup efforts compared to the previous two times. "I plan to use sealant to block water holes under the floor and at the base of the walls to prevent water from coming in", Hieu said, outlining his plans to mitigate future storm impacts.

To Linh has also developed a comprehensive "response plan," installing movable water barriers at the main entrance to prevent flooding, elevating belongings, and relocating electronic devices. Wooden furniture is also moved away from flood-prone areas. The shop plans to install a small submersible pump to manage accumulated water.

The shop owners stated that facing successive natural disasters has also made them "more resilient". "We will not allow ourselves to give up", Linh said, believing that with a dedicated business approach and quality food and beverages, the shop will attract many customers and quickly recover from storm damage.

"My husband says that a flooded shop means water flows to low places, and water coming in is a sign of good fortune; according to feng shui, we will be rich soon. I am sitting here waiting to get rich", Thanh Hoai said with a laugh.

Phuong Anh