Tealuxe was a chain of tea houses founded in Massachusetts in 1996 by Bruce Fernie and Katherine Walsh. With an original location in Harvard Square and later expanding to the greater Boston area as well as New York and Rhode Island, Tealuxe operated until 2019, when it closed its last remaining store, in Providence, Rhode Island.
History edit
The Tealuxe chain of tea houses was founded in Massachusetts in 1996 by Bruce Fernie and Katherine Walsh.[1] They aimed to create a tea house that felt like a French cafe.[1] In 1999, they opened a second location in Back Bay, Boston, which operated until 2010.[1] In 2000, they began opening locations in New York City.[2]
In 2000 Fernie and Walsh sold control of the company to a Boston-based venture capital firm.[citation needed]
In 2001, Tealuxe reported that its top store grossed between $1million and $1.2million annually, comparable with a Starbucks store at the time.[3]
In 2010 Tealuxe was named one of Yankee Magazine's Best 5 New England Teahouses.[4]
Its original location, in Harvard Square at Zero Brattle Street, Cambridge Massachusetts, closed in December 2018 after 19 years.[5] The final Providence, Rhode Island location closed in June 2019.
A Canadian tea company formerly known as Tealux (with no final "e"), which renamed itself to Tealyra in 2014,[6] is of no relation.
References edit
- ^ a b c Hatic, Dana (2018-12-10). "More Change in Harvard Square as Tealuxe Prepares for Closure". Eater Boston. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
- ^ Fabricant, Florence (2000-07-26). "FOOD STUFF; A Proper Tea Party Straight From Boston". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
- ^ Sloane, Julie (April 1, 2001). "The Next Starbucks? Bruce Fernie wants to do for tea what Howard Schultz did for coffee...is he kidding?". money.cnn.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
- ^ "Best 5 New England Teahouses by Katrina Ávila Munichiello." Yankee Magazine. March/April 2010 issue.
- ^ "Tealuxe Is Also Closing After Years in Harvard Square". Boston Magazine. 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
- ^ "About Tealyra".