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Tomball’s glowing local business landscape was recently brightened with the opening of Keep it Simple and Pink. The pronounced pink paradise is a woman-owned café serving up authentic Mexican food and drinks. Keep it Simple and Pink features an assortment of offerings, operating hours and even a venue space for rent. However, there’s no variety when it comes to one aspect of the delectable diner: pink is the rule.
While featuring tapas, sweets and drinks in a unique setting, owner Izabella Papaqui says her goal is to have every Keep it Simple and Pink customer feel merry, comfortable and satisfied in an inviting setting that feels like home.
“From when they come in, to the second they leave, I want them to feel absolutely radiated with the amazingness of the pink,” Papaqui said of her space located at 103 W Main Street. “I hope they just feel happy and are able to create excitement for the rest of their day because they had a great time here.”
As she aims to be Tomball’s “late night snack shop”, Papaqui is familiar with being early, too. Early in life, at age 16, she says she caught the entrepreneurial spirit. She opened Keep it Simple and Pink prior to her 24th birthday.
“Because of my age, I try to let people know it's never too early to start something,” Papaqui said. “I think I'm at that point where there's still so much that I want to accomplish, but I honestly couldn't be prouder of myself.”
Keep it Simple and Pink currently operates until 11 p.m. seven nights a week. However, Papaqui plans to expand soon.
“Our space is small, but we're just going to be growing from here,” Papaqui shared. “We’re planning to obtain a liquor license and build a rooftop bar. Once I get that started, we’ll still have those late night snack hours – but we’ll be open until 2 a.m. That will allow us to serve people basically all day and all night.”
From customers to corporations, Papaqui says she’s benefitted from the collaborative spirit of Tomball - and it sometimes brings her to tears.
“And I’m not a crier whatsoever,” Izabella pointed out.
Multiple Keep it Simple and Pink employees started as customers, including a tandem of young women who would come in “every night” according to Papaqui.
“They would see me here cleaning until 1:30 a.m., so they started coming at night and helping me finish cleaning for free,” Papaqui says. “This went on for a good month before I hired them because I told them I couldn’t just have them blessing me like this.”
In addition to other generous customers who offer to help clean or put away dishes, Izabella says Keep it Simple and Pink wouldn’t be as prosperous – and certainly not as prominent – without an assist from the Tomball Economic Development Corporation. TEDC awarded Papaqui both a Business Improvement Grant and a grant through Tomball’s New Business Rental Incentive Program.
“I landed the space in May, and TEDC allowed me to open in August without a hitch,” Papaqui noted. “It was more than I expected. Actually, my sign is up because of the TEDC. It gives you such peace of mind knowing Tomball is willing to help in any way they can. TEDC, the Fire Marshals, City Hall – everybody has been so nice and sweet.”
Before her day consists of stuffed Conchas, Mexican milkshakes, honey bun waffles and other sweet treats – Izabella enjoys something more potent. She trains in boxing and Muay Thai with the goal of going back to it full-time soon.
“It’s taught me how to battle and how to take a punch,” Papaqui said. “It keeps me active and gives me a moment to let my anger out, because sometimes being a young business owner can be frustrating.”
Papaqui draws parallels between combat sport and entrepreneurship through characteristics like commitment and accountability. She says she hopes to take a fight down the line.
Should Izabella need an energy boost while training for her bout, she’ll have an array of coffee options from which to choose at Keep it Simple and Pink. But while the menu and business hours are vast, when it comes to the eccentric interior of Keep it Simple and Pink – the sole preference is pink.