New cafe in town: TeaLatte Bar opens, prepares for April 1 event
Small business owner experiences beginning of something new
After a stop at the new TeaLatte Bar, freshman reporter Sofia Ayala takes a quick picture of the chain’s “Honolulu Milk Tea.” “When I saw there was a tea place opening close to my house, I was immediately excited,” Ayala said. “Tea is one of my favorite things, and I’m looking forward to coming here often.”
Small business owner Penny Kim unlocks the doors, and TeaLatte Bar opens for the first time in Prosper on March 4.
With this, Kim fulfills her dreams of opening her own tea and boba cafe in her hometown.
“I have always wished to have a nice place to drink tea here at Prosper,” Kim said. “I decided to start a business to create just that.”
TeaLatte Bar offers a variety of drinks on the menu, including tea, smoothies and coffee.
“Prosper is the city that I have been living in for the past six years,” Kim said. “And, personally, I love coffee and boba.”
TeaLatte Bar will hold its grand opening April 1. Not only can customers order from their menu, but they can also customize their own drinks. Customers can choose from a variety of tea types, different milk options, flavors, sweetness levels, drink types and other add-ons.
“We did not move from Hawaii,” Kim said. “TeaLatte Bar is a Hawaiian franchise that we brought here.”
Tea Latte bar is the sister store of “Teapresso Bar,” established in Honolulu in 2014, now owning over 10 locations in Hawaii.
“I thought there would be others like me looking for a nice coffee and tea shop, as well as boba,” Kim said. “So, I made the decision to start one myself.”
The TeaLatte Bar brews all of their teas themselves.
“We wanted to create a local shop here for people to come by and enjoy,” Kim said, “brewed fresh and with organic ingredients.”
Kim said she enjoys making her clients happy and forming personal relationships with them.
“The best thing about running a TeaLatte business here in Prosper is the fact that it’s local,” Kim said. “We can get more personal and connect with the community.”
TeaLatte Bar is open every day of the week. On weekdays, as well as Saturdays, the business opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. On Sundays, they are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“A day on the job consists of opening the shop in the morning and making sure everything is back in its place. I take in customers, make their drinks,” Kim said. “When time avails, I refill the tea leaves, cook the boba and clean up the area.”
Kim said that boba requires constant maintenance to stay fresh.
“As it comes time to close, I wash everything and clean the place,” Kim said, “making it perfect for the next morning.”
The menu offers non-powder, non-GMO, gluten free, vegan and organic options.
“We try to meet the customer’s satisfaction by 100%,” Kim said. “If something doesn’t taste right, we always remake the drink for them. Also, our menu has a wide range of items, having options for every person.”
The TeaLatte Bar has locations in Carrollton, Coppell, McKinney, Frisco, and, now, Prosper.
“Something I am looking forward to for our cafe is having it filled with people,” Kim said, “and, for it to be an everyday part of people’s days.”
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