Portland-based vending and micro markets operator Royal Refresh expands into Vegas market

Royal ReFresh, a micro market, office coffee service and pantry service operator based in Portland, has expanded beyond its Pacific Northwest roots to offer refreshment services in the Las Vegas market.

“Expanding into Las Vegas was a strategic decision based on both market opportunity and partnership,” said Ryan Harrington in an exclusive interview with VendingMarketWatch.com. “The city is experiencing significant growth, and we saw a chance to bring our premier refreshment services to a market with increasing demand. Additionally, partnering with Sean Rybar, who has deep roots in the Las Vegas community, made this expansion feel like the right move at the right time.”

Harrington first teamed up with Sean Rybar nearly 15 years ago when Rybar played on the Portland Royals, a semi-pro baseball team Harrington managed and also played for. “We’ve kept in touch ever since, and over the years, we’ve had a number of conversations about business and entrepreneurship,” Harrington explained. “Sean has had a highly successful career in the medical supplies industry, where he worked his way up to senior vice president for the nation’s largest privately held medical supply manufacturer. After that, he pivoted into business ownership, building a thriving logistics and fulfillment services business in Texas while living in Las Vegas with his family.”

Rybar sold his logistics business, but his entrepreneurial spirit inspired him to seek a new endeavor — and ideally, one in Las Vegas. “He had been following the convenience services industry closely and had expressed interest in what we’ve built at Royal ReFresh. When he reached out, it felt like the right fit at the right time. Las Vegas is a market we’ve both had strong ties to — Sean as a local, and me as someone who visits frequently and has close connections in the area. We saw a mutual opportunity to build something great together, combining his operational and leadership experience with our established systems, technology and support from our Portland-based team,” Harrington said. “Beyond his business background, Sean is deeply rooted in the Las Vegas community. He and his wife, along with their two kids, are actively involved in numerous local organizations, making this expansion even more meaningful as we aim to serve businesses in the area.”

Rybar may be new to the convenience services industry, but his operational expertise, strategic mindset and experience scaling businesses will serve the team well as Royal ReFresh establishes itself in its new market, Harrington noted.

Royal ReFresh in Las Vegas

Smart, sustainable growth is a focus of Royal ReFresh. “Las Vegas is our first step in scaling Royal ReFresh beyond Oregon, and we see this as a blueprint for future expansions,” Harrington said.

The company plans to continue its focus on business and workplace refreshment solutions. “Las Vegas has a diverse business landscape, from corporate offices to industrial and hospitality sectors, all of which align well with our micro market, pantry and coffee service offerings. The city’s rapid growth, combined with businesses seeking modern breakroom solutions, presents a strong demand for the kind of high quality, technology-driven refreshment services we provide,” Harrington said.

At the same time, the Royal ReFresh team realizes that each new city market requires a tailored approach to ensure success. “While our core services will remain the same, we recognize that Las Vegas has unique needs. We anticipate a mix of traditional office accounts as well as locations catering to 24/7 workplaces, given the hospitality and entertainment industries. We’ll tailor our product selection and service schedules to meet these demands,” Harrington said.

“We’re always looking for ways to incorporate the latest technology into our services. In Las Vegas, we’ll continue leveraging self-checkout micro markets, advanced inventory tracking, and the same great technology offerings that we have in the Pacific Northwest. As new technology emerges, we’ll be evaluating how it can enhance the customer experience,” he added.

Harrington expects that partnering with long-time Las Vegas local and business professional Sean Rybar should give Royal ReFresh an advantage as it seeks to grow in a competitive market. “We’ve spent the past several months laying the groundwork for this expansion,” Harrington said. “Sean has been working on and off in our Portland office, learning the ins and outs of the industry firsthand. Now that we’ve put the necessary infrastructure in place, he’s fully ready to hit the ground running in Las Vegas, backed by the systems, processes and support of our amazing Portland-based team.”

Work continues in Las Vegas, as the company is “building out a reliable supply chain, finalizing key vendor partnerships and securing operational infrastructure to ensure a seamless service launch,” Harrington added.

From the beginning

Royal ReFresh has served the Portland area since 2007, when company founder Ryan Harrington placed his first Red Bull vending machines. The company grew slowly but steadily until Ryan and his wife, Michelle, expanded into micro markets.

Although slowed briefly by the pandemic — as much of the industry was — Royal ReFresh used that downtime to rebrand its business and focused on continuing growth. Those efforts paid off, as Royal ReFresh earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list in 2024, ranking 3550th on the list. Royal ReFresh’s 135% growth over the past three years puts it among the most successful companies during that period.