Roastery and
maintained a number of wholesale and retail accounts in
addition to his own stores. As time went on he began to look
for a change but wanted to remain in the coffee industry. So
after a period of time he sold his stores and “retired”.
That lasted only as long as his wife would allow him to sit
around the house (not long).
For the next period of time
Kent traveled the world continuing to give back to the
coffee industry which he enjoyed. From 1990 – 1999 he
consulted throughout the United States and internationally.
His consulting included many private consulting trips
throughout the major metropolitan markets in the United
States and British Columbia. The scope of his work included
assistance in market research, 
store design and layout,
staff training and location analysis of new specialty coffee
stores. International consulting took him to Mexico,
Honduras, and the Philippines.
In 1998, upon returning to
the retail side of Specialty Coffee industry, Kent
understood that the specialty coffee market was maturing.
Although the drive- thru concept is not new, what is new is
the very upscale, national branded look with a recognized
name that delivers quality and consistency in every cup of
specialty coffee. With these market conditions and Kent’s
passion and values of business, Fox Hollow Coffee began.
In addition to Fox Hollow
Coffee, Kent is an author and consults to business and
educational community. He is published in Achieving Success
in Specialty Coffee, Specialty Coffee Retailer Magazine,
Entrepreneurship Manual (a manual for Pierce College's
Entrepreneurship Program), The Espresso Bar Construction
Manual, and Espresso Business Seminar Workbook. Kent is
currently consulting with The Gates Foundation and The
Center for Leadership Development, Inc.
Today, Kent is active in writing and consulting to
business and education as well as maintaining an active role
as the CEO of Fox Hollow Coffee, Inc.
Nearly fifteen years ago, Kent
started his first sit down espresso bar in Gig Harbor,
Washington. The business was called Austin Chase, named
after his oldest son. Over a period of six years he built a
chain of stores (consisting of company owned stores and
licensed stores), developed the Austin Chase Roastery and
maintained a number of wholesale and retail accounts in
addition to his own stores. As time went on he began to look
for a change but wanted to remain in the coffee industry. So
after a period of time he sold his stores and “retired”.
That lasted only as long as his wife would allow him to sit
around the house (not long).