Tea Bar Reveals Upcoming Fourth Location Downtown

Tea Bar owner Erica Indira Swanson has revealed that her hit steeping-and-more business is adding a new location in coming months, in the Park Avenue West building in downtown Portland at SW Park between Morrison and Yamhill, according the Portland Business Journal.

In a message to Eater, Swanson says that location held great appeal to her, calling it a “striking building”, and noting her respect for Vanessa Sturgeon who has spearheaded the part-office, part-residential building.

It will takes its cues from the existing Tea Bars — that means a similar minimalistic Scandinavian design, featuring wood, fresh flowers, and plants. It’ll also offer the same menu as other stores — so expect a few dozen loose-leaf teas, including ample matcha infusions, and boba teas with house-made tapioca pearls, all alongside pastries from Nuvrei Bakery. There will also be rotating seasonal items, as well as the popular tea soft serve.

The company has expanded smoothly since its birth in late 2014, with the Park Avenue location becoming the fourth in just over three years. With Portland well-served for coffee, Swanson noticed a gap for quality tea, and says she wanted to fill that with something high-quality yet unintimidating to customers not well versed in it.

Swanson didn’t say whether other expansions are in the works, but noted that she is considering a few other spots around Portland as well as the possibility of branching out to Seattle — in the case of any expansion, she adds that a densely-populated area is key.

Swanson is hoping to open up the fourth Tea Bar sometime in the spring.

• Park Avenue West signs tea shop to a prominent downtown corner [Portland Business Journal]
• Tea Bar Coming to NE Killingsworth [EPDX]