Since receiving $20 to buy his first meal in America, Tran has spent the last 27 years serving life-long customers who return for the meal that they had when they were younger.   

   Quang Tran, one of the first La Bou owners, immigrated to the US seeking asylum after the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War, he fought until the fall of Saigon in 1975.

   Tran starts his day at 4:30 a.m. making croissants. Rocklin’s La Bou, part of the Greater Sacramento based bakery and cafe franchise, will open its doors to customers in less than two hours.

   “Our store originated the recipes for the La Bou chain,” Tran, chain production manager and franchise owner, said. 

   La Bou’s Chinese chicken salad was created by Tran’s wife, Gwen Tran. It is a blend of shredded chicken, lettuce, carrots, celery and peanuts all tossed together with a soy-sesame vinaigrette.

   “(My wife) went through the process and tested it over 100 times before it finally was ready to serve to our customers,” Tran said.

   Tran is one of the first La Bou owners and employees. His brother-in-law, Truong Nguyen, founded the first La Bou cafe in downtown Sacramento in 1981. 

   “In 1979, South Vietnam fell and then the Communists took over,” Tran said. “I lived with them for four years, going through the labor camp, the reeducation camp of the government. After I (went) back to Saigon, we found a way to build a boat (and) escape from the country.”

   Tran said he received asylum status to immigrate to the United States because he fought for the United States Army’s 101st Airborne Division for five years. So in 1979, with not a single dollar to his name, Tran’s sponsor picked him up and gave him $20 so he could buy a meal.

   “When I see that $20, I say, ‘In life, I will make more than this.’ And then from that day, I keep looking for a job and working and working,” Tran said.

   Less than a year later, Tran became production manager for La Bou corporation, where he oversaw the recipes of all the menu items. When La Bou opened their first store in Downtown Sacramento, Tran officially became a cafe owner. 

   “I wanted to be my own boss and work for myself, live the American dream,” Tran said. 

   Since 1977, Tran has run the store with his wife. As of May 2024, there are over 26 La Bou cafes located in the Sacramento region, including locations in Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin and Granite Bay.

   “People come in from word of mouth to taste our quality. It is a place where you can feel at home and enjoy a cup of coffee and your favorite pastry,” Tran said.

   As a La Bou franchise owner, Tran experiences challenges typical of a small business owner. He is adept at keeping customers satisfied and training new employees.

   “One thing I learned is to treat employees like family and keep them happy. Even though I am their boss, I sit down and talk to my employees to let them know how they can improve,” Tran said.

   Tran, who’s trained hundreds of employees, says La Bou’s community impact is generational. 

   “We hire a lot of students from Rocklin High School who work here part-time. They go off to college and have come back with their own families to visit… They tell me how their old job interacting with customers in high school has helped them grow and become confident in their current profession,” Tran said.