Today we’d like to introduce you to Chinkie Abad Costa.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
If you had asked me years ago what I thought my life would look like today, I probably would have given you a completely different answer. But that’s one of the things I’ve come to love about my story.
I’ve spent most of my career in healthcare and eventually built a career in medical sales, while also taking a leap into entrepreneurship and becoming a small business owner. I’ve always loved connecting with people, being of service, creating, building, and finding new ways to challenge myself.
Through every season…the exciting ones, the uncertain ones, and the ones I never saw coming, my faith has been the constant. Through it all, I’ve learned to trust God’s plan, even when I can’t see the full picture yet.
Today, I’m a wife, entrepreneur, medical sales professional, and woman who is still growing and dreaming. I truly feel like I’m just getting started, and I’m excited for whatever God has planned next.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not a smooth road—and I don’t think anyone’s story really is\.
One of the biggest leaps I took was becoming a small business owner and opening a café. I went into it with a vision and a lot of excitement, but quickly learned that owning a business comes with challenges you can never fully prepare for. You wear every hat, make difficult decisions, learn as you go, and somehow still have to keep showing up every day.
Outside of business, I’ve also experienced seasons of loss, starting over, career pressure, and rebuilding parts of my personal life that I once thought would look very different.
There have been moments when I questioned myself or simply didn’t know what was next, but those seasons are also where my faith grew the most. I’ve learned that faith doesn’t mean everything will be easy. For me, it means knowing where to turn when it isn’t.
Looking back, some of the things I once saw as setbacks were actually preparing me for who I needed to become. I’m still learning and still being stretched, but I’ve learned to walk through the hard seasons with a lot more faith than fear.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Urban Sweet Cafe is a locally owned café in San Marcos that my husband and I have had the opportunity to build together. We serve specialty coffee, breakfast, brunch, and other café favorites, but from the beginning, I wanted it to be more than just a place to grab coffee or a bite to eat.
What I love most is the community that has been created around it. We’ve gotten to know our regulars, watch friendships form, celebrate milestones with customers, and create a space where people genuinely feel welcome. To me, that’s what makes a small business special, it becomes personal.
I’m also really proud of the team we’ve built and everything owning the café has taught us. Small business ownership is definitely not for the faint of heart! There are long days, constant problem-solving, and plenty of lessons learned along the way, but there’s also something incredibly rewarding about watching an idea become something real.
What I hope people feel when they walk into Urban Sweet is warmth, community, and connection. Of course, I want them to love the coffee and food, but even more than that, I want them to leave feeling like they were genuinely welcomed and cared for.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that I don’t have to have everything figured out.
I’m naturally a planner and a doer. I like having goals, knowing the next step, and making things happen. But life, business, relationships, and even my career have taught me that there are so many things I simply can’t control.
My faith has taught me to do my part, work hard, be a good steward of what God has given me and then trust Him with the outcome.
Not every opportunity is meant for me. Not every closed door is a failure. And not every season is meant to last forever. Sometimes God is redirecting you, growing you, or asking you to trust Him before you can see what’s on the other side.
I still plan, dream big, and work hard I’ve just learned not to let my plans become bigger than my trust in God.
Pricing:
- Avocado Fiesta Toast — $11 / $17 — Avocado, bacon, grated egg, seasoning & sriracha
- Turkey Bacon Avo Melt — $11.75 — Turkey, bacon, cheese, avocado & mayo
- Classic Sweet Crepe — $11.75 — Nutella, banana, strawberry & whipped cream
- Kingslayer — $5 / $5.75 / $6 — Signature latte with organic agave & steamed cinnamon
Contact Info:
- Website: https://urbansweetcafe.com/
- Instagram: @urbansweetcafe
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/vTpfT_I_kn
