WICKER PARK — A frozen yogurt franchise that has expanded rapidly since opening its first location in Wicker Park in 2010 is returning to familiar terrain to launch Bee & Tea, a bubble tea and Asian steamed bun shop that plans to open by the end of the month.
Less than one block east of Forever Yogurt's first shop at 1924 W. North Ave., Bee & Tea at 1843 W. North Ave. will sell Taiwanese boba or bubble tea as well as bao, Asian steamed buns filled with meat, veggies or a dessert filling.
"Right now you see bubble tea in small Asian community mom-and-pop stores and we're trying to bring it to the mainstream," said Steve Wong, director of development for Forever Brands, which owns the Forever Yogurt franchise and Bee & Tea.
Tea made with tapioca pearls became popular in Taiwan before reaching the U.S. West Coast and eventually expanding across the country, and CEO Mandy Calara hopes he'll put a simpler, more customizable twist on the trend.
Customers will choose between black or green tea before being given the option to add milk, a flavor or a mix of flavors, and various types of tapioca, including tapioca flavored with pure honey (hence the "Bee" name).
Available in 24- and 32-ounce sizes — and in both iced and hot versions — bubble tea prices range from $2.95-$4.95, according to Bee & Tea's menu.
Calara previously said he hoped to go beyond the traditional bao flavors like barbecue pork and chicken and create some more unusual combinations, such as Mexican- or American-inspired baos.
True to his word, the seven varieties of bao on the menu, which are $2.49 each or $13.49 for a six-pack, include cheeseburger, chorizo and cheese and chocolate hazelnut, among others.
On a coincidental note, Bee & Tea's 1,200-square-foot storefront once housed a short-lived competitor to Forever Yogurt called Yo-Lite, Chicago Pipeline reported in 2011.
"We seized the opportunity to take prime real estate back," Hong said of the shop, which had been vacant.
Based in River North, Forever Brands selected Wicker Park for its flagship Bee & Tea because the area "is a bustling neighborhood and offers a large and diverse customer demographic," Hong said.
"Of all the neighborhoods in Chicago, the Wicker Park community is receptive and open to trying new and different concepts," he said.
In addition to the Wicker Park shop, which will bring up to 20 new jobs to the area, there is a Bee & Tea in the works for Lombard. Hong said the plan is to franchise the concept, with both stand-alone Bee & Teas as well as co-branding Bee & Tea with some existing Forever Yogurt stores.
Since bubble tea can be served warm and hot, and eating bao is any anytime indulgence, Hong said he believes the concept will "help combat the seasonality" that impacts fro-yo shops.
Bee & Tea, 1843 W. North Ave. Hours TBA. Check the shop's Facebook page and Twitter @Bee_N_Tea for updates.
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