To fuel our customers' lives so they can build a better tomorrow for all of us.
To be the heart of the community—where convenience meets connection.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Every decision starts with the person in front of us — customer, coworker, or neighbor.
Whatever is true, honorable, just, commendable, worthy of praise & service, do those things.
From the coffee to the counter to the bathrooms — we hold the same standard everywhere.
Two are better than one.
We built this as a family, and we run it like one — staff, regulars, and neighbors included.
Thy Brand shall be my Brand.
That is, live how Christ Jesus wants me to live: love God and love your neighbor.
What We Stand For
From our signature Teja Vu™ Specialty Coffee and renowned Broasted Chicken to handcrafted burgers, signature pizzas, and refreshing beverages, every item is made with premium ingredients, exceptional quality, and consistent flavor—bringing great taste and genuine value to our community.
Exceptional Service begins with our People First philosophy. Whether you visit in-store, use our drive-thru, order online, or choose delivery, we are committed to providing a friendly, fast, and seamless experience—combining modern convenience with genuine neighborhood hospitality.
Your neighborhood one-stop shop for quality Shell fuel, everyday essentials, fresh groceries, and refreshing beverages. Our bright, clean, and thoughtfully organized market transforms the traditional convenience store into a welcoming destination you can count on every day.
More than a place to stop, Kumbha-Yah is where neighbors connect. As a family-owned business, we are committed to serving our community with local jobs, meaningful relationships, and a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels at home.
Our Story
I was 25 years old when I took my first flight to the United States for a job opportunity that could help my family financially. I was surprised by how cold the winter was here, how no one walked except to exercise, and how many people drove cars — I felt like I had time-traveled a few years into the future. Over the next few months, I was able to settle into my daily routine: job, getting acquainted with the language and accent, new friends, and a whole new community. Life was different, and in a good way.
One of the notable events in my life was when I visited a local business and an employee approached me and talked about a leg brace that could help me with my polio-affected leg. Fast forward: I was fitted with a custom brace and was able to stand and walk upright while carrying grocery bags in my two hands for the first time in my life. We all take small things for granted, but for me, being able to do this small thing was a miracle. My life has been better ever since I got that brace. To this day, I think of that person who approached me about it and consider him my God-sent “Guardian Angel.”
Over the years, I have met a lot of great people, made friends, and have been able to continue supporting my family back in my home country. I met my wife Denise, got married, and moved to the community of Canal Winchester thirteen years ago so we could live close to family. We were also blessed with our son, Teja, who is in his senior year of high school. We are involved in our local church, New Life, and are especially close with our smaller Life Group, who have become our second family here.
About six years ago, I got the idea of building a business in the community that would be a gathering place for people, and within that business, I wanted to offer good products and services. Starting off was challenging — Covid, engineering and permit issues, and a few other setbacks — but now the idea has become reality with the help of family, friends, partners, and the community. Sometimes it scares me how real this is — Kumbha-Yah is standing right here.
I realized there is a retail outlet, convenience store, or cafe in almost every corner of every community. So you may rightly ask how this new establishment is different. I am delighted to say, first off, that we are locally owned and belong to this community where we live. We offer job opportunities right within our neighborhood — many employees walk to work. Our actions reflect our values: (1) People First — do unto others as you would have them do unto you; (2) Excellence in All We Do — whatever is true, honorable, just, commendable, worthy of praise and service, do those things; (3) Stronger Together — two are better than one; (4) It's All About Yah! — thy Brand shall be my Brand, that is, live how Christ Jesus wants me to live: love God and love your neighbor. Our mission statement is, “To fuel our customers’ lives so they can go places and do better things,” just like my Guardian Angel did for me.
Within less than 6 weeks, I saw so much excitement in the store. On a daily basis we are reaching out to people — helping a stranger by giving them a ride late at night, providing a place to come on a rainy day or when the homes around us had no power, offering kind words to a customer who's struggling with bad choices, or even being able to say “we will pray for you” and meaning it. These are things we do to help build up our community. I am humbled by this opportunity because I fall short, stumble, and struggle, but when I need help, I have the support of family, Life Group, and friends. I want to be that support to those in our community in any way I can. That is where I think our business makes an impact toward a stronger, more connected community.
This is my story. I am Srini Kumbha, my wife is Denise, and my son is Teja. We are the Kumbha family, and we welcome you all to Kumbha-Yah. We are looking forward to seeing and serving you every day.
God bless you.
By the way, Kumbha-Yah comes from my last name and is a play on words from that well-known camp song. EV is for Ekalavya Ventures — Ekalavya being my tribe's name. Now you know.
Original story published in July 2023. May 2025 update: we are in the process of combining our cafe (Kumbha-Yah Cafe) and convenience store (EV Market Place) brands into one Kumbha-Yah.