Community rallies to help keep Pennsylvania boba tea shop open
By Carl Samson
October 13, 2023
After facing imminent closure, an Asian-run boba tea shop in State College, Pennsylvania, is keeping its doors open thanks to the power of community.
Driving the news: Teadori, located at 454 E. College Ave., had a slow start after it opened in October 2022. As sales continued to droop in the following months, the business fell behind on rent and faced eviction on Sept. 8.
Making ends meet: The store’s manager, Atlas, remained steadfast and asked the building’s landlord for more time. After exploring their options — including setting up a GoFundMe — they decided to run a three-day promotion to raise $10,000.
From Sept. 6-8, Teadori offered a 20% discount on gift cards, buy-one-get-one and private boba tasting parties. The shop managed to raise $3,000 on the first day.
Power of community: While $3,000 on day 1 of the promotion marked a “big milestone,” the shop still needed $7,000 to prevent eviction. However, thanks to social media and local newspapers, customers flocked on days 2 and 3, with some even coming up to four times in a day.
In the end, Teadori managed to raise $10,000. The shop stays open.
“Sometimes you think that you’re alone, but you’re not really alone,” Atlas told Onward State, an independent, student-run news outlet serving the Pennsylvania State University community. “All you have to do is reach out to the community and ask for help. But, I feel like that’s the hardest part.”
What’s next: With an increased rent, Atlas is working to sustain growth. Teadori has new items on its menu and extended its hours on Thursday to Saturday from noon to 2 a.m.
For the uninitiated, Atlas has explained the story behind the business’ name to StateCollege.com: “The name is based on the word ‘midori.’ It means fresh and green in Japanese, like a new shoot on a plant. Our teas are fresh and green, so, ‘Teadori.’”
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