Rising Stars: Meet Chanel Allen of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chanel Allen.

Hi Chanel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Since moving here 9 years ago I’ve been in love with Atlanta’s cafe and coffee culture. I started Oohmami Matcha because I always dreamt of owning my own coffee shop at retirement. In 2024 my friends were like why wait start making it happen now. So I traveled to Japan and started the concept of a Matcha cart with my best friend at the time and it just grew from there. Things ended up not working out and I relinquished all rights to that brand. Once I recentered my focus to God I was able to start from scratch with the help of my village. In May of 2025 I launched what is now Oohmami Matcha. My passion for community and hospitality were always there and this shift just made space so that Oohmami Matcha could have its own identity. I founded Oohmami Matcha with the hopes of building a community that values authentic fellowship and organic camaraderie, and I believe matcha is the perfect way to bring people together. With its rich history and powerful health benefits, matcha is our invitation to slow down, pour into you, and prioritize wellness. It’s a space for connection, tradition, and intentional living. I’m creating a movement rooted in mindfulness, quality, and connection.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In the very beginning I relied on the wrong things to make my business dreams come true. I had to take a step back and understand the role I played in it all. I wasn’t moving with the spirit of a business owner and that caused me to lose my first venture that I’d worked so hard to build. It has been a hard pill to swallow but had it not been for that failure I never would have had the confidence to start my own business with complete autonomy. It’s been amazing to spread my wings a new business woman.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve always been able to connect with people on an organic level but children are especially my passion. I do believe my purpose is to be able to do matcha full time but now I am currently a full time nanny to a 5 year old boy and I do my matcha pop ups on the weekend. Matcha is my true passion and I can’t wait for the right time to go full time.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I am proud to mention that I grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and ventured to Washington, DC to pursue my undergraduate studies at Howard University. I have a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Political Science. With over a decade of experience in hospitality and food service, my work has always been centered on people, community, and thoughtful operations. In 2024, my path led her to Kyoto, Japan, where a deep respect for tradition and craftsmanship inspired me to source ceremonial-grade matcha and plant the seeds for what would become Oohmami Matcha. Over the past two years, I’ve nurtured the brand with care and intention—balancing full-time nannying while building my dream from the ground up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oohmamimatcha.com
• Instagram: @oohmamimatcha
• Other: TikTok: @oohmamimatcha