Published August 14, 2009
Venerable Tea Lady relocates
ROLF BOONE; The OlympianOLYMPIA – The longtime downtown Olympia business Tea Lady has moved to a new location near Tumwater, a decision largely spurred by the need for more room, the co-owner said Thursday.
Additionally, the business gains more parking and there was some uncertainty about the future of the previous location, co-owner Carol Welch said. This month Tea Lady moved into 3,133 square feet in the Wildwood Building at 2828 Capitol Boulevard S.E., up from about 2,100 square feet at the old location in downtown’s Capitol Theater building.
Tea Lady, which sells more than 700 kinds of teas and accessories and features a tea bar, spent 14 years downtown, including the past nine years occupying space in the Capitol Theater building, she said. Welch said she loves downtown Olympia, but acknowledged that some of her customers with “mobility” issues had difficulty accessing the old store.
“It’s easy for them to get in and out of there,” said Welch about the new location, adding that it has about 28 parking spaces.
She and her husband had considered renovating the old space until they learned the Capitol Theater building was being put up for sale. This year the owner of the building, citing health concerns, listed it for $1.8 million. Listing agent and Colliers International commercial real estate broker Ryan Clintworth said the building has received interest from prospective buyers throughout Western Washington. One possible buyer had the property under contract until that deal fell through, Clintworth said.
He expects the former Tea Lady space to lease quickly because it occupies such a visible corner of the building at Fifth Avenue and Washington Street.
Fourteen years ago, Tea Lady started with no employees but today has grown to a staff of seven and continues to grow even in this slower economy, Welch said.
She attributes that steady growth to more people spending time at home and drinking a product that helps people feel comfortable and reduces stress, Welch said.
The business sells green tea, black tea, herbal tea and a selection of British foods and snacks. Green tea is one of the store’s most popular teas, she said. A newsletter produced by the business regularly updates customers on top-selling teas, Welch said.
On Thursday, Olympia resident Jill Esbeck stopped at the new store to buy a gift for a friend’s birthday. She said she likes the concept of a store that strictly caters to tea. Esbeck also said the store cafe area was quaint and that the store feels much more open. “There’s more room to meander and look at things,” she said.
Rolf Boone: 360-754-5403