At Ypsilanti's
A Pocketful O' Tea, the reaction to Flowering Dragon, a lavender-green tea mix with rose hips and hibiscus, has been anything but tepid. "I actually have people come in and ask for it that have never been here," says Chris Biek, who opened his tea shop at 8 W. Michigan Avenue last December.
There is seating for up to 15 people in the emporium. Biek installed new flooring and re-painted the space. He also carries locally-made alcohol-free soaps and lotions, cards and jewelry, and serves organic coffee. He plans to offer baked goods and sandwiches once approvals from the city health department have been received.
Biek, an EMU student who holds a second job as well, is relying on volunteer help at the shop. It's open every day of the week except Thursdays.
"I get all sorts of foot traffic," he says. "I try and avoid going into Ann Arbor, so I wanted to be able to open a place that Ypsilanti doesn't have, and so that people who can't make it to Ann Arbor, they can get affordable tea here, and coffee."
Source: Chris Biek, owner, A Pocketful O' Tea
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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