Signage is up for the new tenant at 300 E. Fifth. at Second Avenue — Spiritea (thanks to Carol from East 5th Street and Derek Berg for the tip!) ...
This is the second outpost for the fruit-and-milk tea shop, whose first location is in Richmond outside Vancouver (one is also opening in Irvine, Calif.).
A local food site had this to say about the location that opened in late 2018 in Richmond, B.C.:
What sets Spiritea apart from other tea shops is that they brew all of their teas on the spot in a special Teapresso machine. They use premium tea leaves, fresh fruit, Avalon Dairy organic milk and pure cane sugar made in France. Their focus is to provide the freshest and highest quality ingredients without the use of artificial fruit syrups or powders.
Signage here points to an opening this month.
Workers have been renovating this corner space, which was Mary Ann's for years before the Mexican restaurant morphed into Dahlia's.
The storefront has sat empty since 100% Healthy Blend (or maybe just Healthy Blend) closed after three months in November 2016.
They'll have to sell a lot of tea to pay the rent. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteMore pamper drinks for tourists to enjoy.
ReplyDelete"Pure cane sugar made in France." Also known as "sugar."
ReplyDeleteAlso, most sugar in France comes from sugar beets, not cane sugar, which is not grown in France. Though, I suppose it could be processed there. Too bad Dominos closed it’s plant in Brooklyn or they could have promoted cane sugar made in Brooklyn.
DeleteExactly. A lot of tea needs to be sold to afford the rent, not to mention labor, inventory/product, insurance, operataional costs, taxes, and so on. I have commented on this topic before. In this financial and social climate, it is extraordinary if any business can survive in this city for six months, let alone a year and moving forward. Customers can be fickle and disloyal. Novelities often fade. I can't imagine what the monthly fees are or what factored into the decision of the owners who signed the lease and renovated the space. As a neighbor of this hood, I truly hope this location can not just survive, but thrive as well. As a devoted tea drinker myself, I will soon pay them a visit. Best of luck to them!
ReplyDeleteLiving on 5th St between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, I am now surrounded by drinks and sweets: Meet Fresh, Schmackery Cookies (3rd Ave/6th St), Coffee Project, Southern Cross, Spiritea (5th St within steps of each other), The Bean, Kona Coffee (2nd Ave/3/4th Sts).
ReplyDeleteWhen a business sets it sights on Irvine, CA at the same time as NYC, it makes you realize how bland the New New York really is.
ReplyDeleteMaking the world a better place - one organic, artisanal teaccino (passionately poured by your local tearista) at a time.
I wish them success - just elsewhere.
I hope they find a more sustainable way of serving tea than big plastic cups and straws!
ReplyDelete