Charlie Ton is a busy man. At only 33 years old, he owns 620 Regal Nails salons nationwide, four Charlie’s Coffee shops, and a manufacturing plant in Baton Rouge. And that’s only the beginning.
Charlie’s Coffee, which is possibly best known for its aquariums and assortment of tropical fish as well as coffee drinks, is expanding.
The chain now has three stores in Baton Rouge — the original, located on Highland Road, a second near Baton Rouge Community College on Florida Boulevard, and the newest on Coursey Boulevard, which opened last Tuesday.
The next direction for the coffee shop to go is nationwide. There is a trial store located in a Wal-Mart in New Hartford, N.Y., and if it is successful, then Charlie’s Coffee could be in Wal-Marts across the country.
“You’ll see it happen fast,” said Wade Day, manager of all the Charlie’s Coffee shops. “Within five years, you’ll see us nationwide.”
A 1995 LSU Chemical Engineering graduate, Ton became a businessman right out of college. He started a manufacturing plant, Alfalfa Nail Supply, which makes furniture, chemical products and nail products for nail salons throughout the country.
From there, Ton approached the Wal-Mart corporation in Bentonville, Ark., where he pitched his idea of including nail salons in Wal-Mart stores. Rejected at first, Ton went back a second time, where he was given the chance to open five test stores. The first Regal Nails salon opened in 1997 in a Wal-Mart in Shreveport.
Since then, 620 Regal Nail salons have opened in Wal-Marts nationwide, and are growing at a rate of 100 per year, Ton said.
The next project for Ton was to open a unique coffee shop in Baton Rouge.
“My interest is coffee because I’m a coffee drinker,” he said. “I did some research on it. I studied Starbucks. I tried to combine the idea of coffee with relaxation, and peaceful environment. That’s why the fish come with the coffee. No one else has something like this because it’s too hard — especially with the saltwater aquarium. It’s very hard to maintain.”
The first Charlie’s Coffee opened Sept. 22, 2003 on the corner of Highland Road and Lee Drive and is now a popular spot for students.
“Every night we’re packed here,” Ton said. “I’m working on expanding to Sally’s [Beauty Supply] to expand another 50 seats or so.”
Ton said the expansion of the coffee shop should be completed by the end of this year.
There are a number of reasons Charlie’s Coffee is so successful.
“Number one is we have a lot more to offer,” Day said. “Look at our prices and our menus. We’re affordable for everyone. On top of that, if you speak to the employees, everyone who works for [Ton’s] other two companies loves working with Charlie and everyone who works here loves working with Charlie.”
Jason Waguespack, an employee at the Charlie’s Coffee on Florida Boulevard, enjoys working at the coffee shop alongside Ton.
“He comes in a lot,” Waguespack said. “He’s pretty involved with a lot of things. When he comes in, he talks to you. He’s personable. I love working there.”
Ton contributes his success to hard work.
“I work really hard,” he said. “I try to get things done. I spend time on research, though. That’s another thing I do.”
Day is optimistic about the future of Charlie’s Coffee, not only because of the actual business, but because of Ton’s work ethic and dedication.
“This guy has been an incredible businessman,” he said. “You think about Walt Disney, and his whole philosphy was if you can dream it, it can come true. That’s Charlie. He’s living proof of that.”