When Lakeisha Germany bought a 120-year-old house along Reynolds Street, she’d initially considered offering it as an Airbnb. Amid running her Augusta food touring business sampling local restaurants, Foodie Trot, it occurred to her that the city could use something different.
“I noticed that there’s coffee shops everywhere, and then there were [new] coffee shops popping up everywhere,” she said. “What about the people who don’t drink coffee? Where is that niche?”
Both a military brat and wife — her husband retired after they moved to the CSRA in 2018, and the couple had lived in Italy before then — Germany has been to more than 70 countries. Among the establishments she’s frequented in her travels that have piqued her interest are tea shops.
“I just started purchasing old stuff,” she said, after the idea occurred to her to open a tea house in downtown Augusta, furnishing parts of the home in antique furniture, that she repainted.
Royal Tea On Reynolds first opened as an event space in January, and continues to offer rentals for baby showers, bridal showers, birthday and graduation parties, but its burgeoning claim to fame is its weekend afternoon tea parties, which began in March.
In a unique model of inclusive exclusivity, the tea parties, serving loose-leaf teas and coffees from overseas, usually scheduled on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, are promoted mostly via social media. Prospective patrons buy tickets ahead of time, and arrive for a light-hearted afternoon to unwind, socialize, and enjoy the likes of blackberry hibiscus, lavender strawberry or watermelon green tea along with sweet and savory snacks, like pastries, scones or cheesecake with finger sandwiches.
“It’s just a place to come relax, bring your girlfriends, your ‘best-tea,’” said Germany, who was surprised to find the gatherings quickly selling out, often with men among the patrons. “First we started with just one, and it just sold out. And then I said, OK, I’ll do two. So now I’m like, should I do three? Another?”
The Reynolds shop is among the first in the Garden City, though similar establishments can be found a little closer than London, such as Atlanta, or Ridgeway, S.C. Germany attributes some of the rising interest in tea shops to the popularity of the TV series “Bridgerton.”
The current model is working for her, as opposed to a more conventional, daily restaurant schedule, as Germany still works full-time and raises small children. But the business is not slowing down anytime soon. “Henna and Afternoon Tea,” one of its upcoming sessions during which attendees will also be able to get henna tattoos, is scheduled for June 1 and is already sold out. Other special events, such as a tea making class, are also on the horizon.
“I think it’s just unique here, because we don’t have one in Augusta,” she said. “And a lot of people, I think, just enjoy coming to sit down with friends and talk. It’s something different.”
Royal Tea on Reynolds is located at 1024 Reynolds St, downtown Augusta. For more information, find Royal Tea On Reynolds on Facebook.
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
