The no coffee Houqua TeaRoom will open next to Starbucks. Is this the beginning of the diuretic wars?
Coffeehouse’s can survive without serving tea. But can a Tea Room survive without serving coffee?
We announced yesterday that Houqua TeaRoom (pronounced who-kwaa) would be opening at Emory Village under Saba restaurant (story here).
The owner, Andrew Freni, is currently a caddy for the East Lake Golf Club. By just serving tea, and not coffee, critics everywhere agree he’s putting his balls on the line.
Offering 40 to 50 varieties of fine loose teas from around the world, Houqua will be like any coffeehouse experience that people are familiar with, according to Freni.
Minus the coffee part. But that’s okay, Freni adds.
“The difference is there are a million places to get coffee, but no where to get fine teas.”
A personal pot of tea with 2 to 3 servings will cost around $5.00 where a high-end tea will cost around $6.00 to $7.00 for the same serving size.
Freni said there isn’t a specific time line for opening considering the difficulties of securing documents through the city of Atlanta.
What’s your take? And no, we don’t mean black or with two sugars.
Houqua TeaRoom
1451 Oxford Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
6 Responses
Unfortunately, I don’t think Atlanta is sophisticated enough for this concept. New York? San Francisco? Portland? Sure.
“Freni said there isn’t a specific time line for opening considering the difficulties of securing documents through the city of Atlanta.”
Isn’t Oxford road in unincorporated Dekalb? If so, he’ll find that things move a bit faster.
http://gis.atlantaga.gov/doc_archive/raw/d003500/p003787.pdf
Is Atlanta ready tea? I hope so! Is Atlanta ready for beauty and subtlety? Certainly!! It is time to look at that stuff you are drinking, and ask yourself -What is this? Why is it PURPLE? Why am I drinking it?
Drink Something Real.
Purple Drank?
Zen Tea (http://ezentea.com/ezt/main.php) has been open and is doing quite well in Chamblee – looks like others are starting to catch on. If the right location is found, yes I think the town and market can and will support a tea shop.
Cheers!
I am looking forward to a tearoom within walking distance of my home! I LOVE tea. I have gone out of my way to go to Zen Tea in Chamblee. I hope the space will be nice.