teahouse to start burning tongues in mid-august
We have a saying here at angelenic: “Add two months to any restaurant’s planned opening date.” City permits and construction tie-ups have a tendency to roll through even the most conservative of grand-opening estimates.
Originally planning a June opening, SipTea proprietor and tea afficionado Laura Stewart is wrapping up permit delays and aiming for a mid-August soft opening, to be followed by a grand opening celebration the first week of September.
The Zen-style teahouse’s curious bubble-themed interior has been visible on the corner of 9th and Broadway for some time now. Teas can be ordered hot, iced, blended, as a latte or even as a “tea soda” — and don’t even think about asking for a coffee.
Last time we wrote about SipTea, some commented on the dockworkers in the rendering. Say what you will — it’s a nice deviation from the usual wine-toting alternative.
-ten june openings spreading the downtown wealth
-new teahouse progresses on an evolving broadway
SipTea
852 S Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014
213-622-8007
siptea.biz / Menu
Opening mid-August
14 comments
funny, i was just thinking about those dock workers the other day…
Any idea what’s going on next door? They’ve got the windows papered now.
i’m so excited for this place. i walked by the other day and saw a girl working on the decor. can’t wait!
Vista Art Gallery, a couple of doors down, has moved out.
Peter: According to Laura, the landlord was told to clean the space up, and the paper on the windows was part of the solution.
hehehe is that popeye in the light blue beenie?
So I guess we can expect Cole’s to reopen in, what, late 2009?
Cole’s is a tough one to gauge. I can see it every time I leave my building, and it looks like they’ve increased the construction pace… but from what I see it’s still got quite some time. I’d say early 2009, give or take.
They’ve also started cleaning the bricks on the exterior, which are looking great.
I think the dock workers in the siptea renderings are funny!
Does anyone know what is up with Bottle Rock??…I thought they were supposed to open like almost a year ago. Every time I go by their space, the construction is progressing sooo slowly…I realize that the permit process can cause delays…but this long?….what gives?
The same question goes for Church & State…anyone have any updates?
Slightly off topic but also a little on … why are businesses continually slowed by the permit/inspection process?
Ken – I’m in touch with the owners at Church & State. Of course they’re experiencing permit delays. As of this week think they’re aiming for a Labor Day week opening.
Thank you for the info Stephen!
Walked by tonight, and its still under construction – heavy construction. At least another four weeks. No installations yet, no furniture. I saw the owners working on it one night last week, but nothing tonight. Maybe permit issues?
Brian, to answer your question – permits are not the problem, but a general misunderstanding of what is needed, and greedy landlords and sub-contractors who tell who everything is okay. Then when the inspector comes – it aint!. I’ve seen a lot of guys trying to cut corners, only to be told “That ain’t cuttin it” by the inspector. the they owners look to the contractor – “Well that’s the first time I heard of that, and meanwhile, he may be working on another job and has no resources to get back to the inspected site.. Sucks but that’s life in the biz – any biz relying on construction.