The Glendale Star
14
August 26, 2021
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The Pink Door Tea House keeps teatime alive BY ANNIKA TOMLIN
said several walls were torn down to make a more Twenty-six years after opening open concept, an open Kimberly Ann’s Tea Room, Mae Col- kitchen was created, and an lins sold it last year in light of the outdoor patio was added to COVID-19 pandemic. the side of the building. Her neighbor, insurance agent Lupe “The buildout so far was Encinas, is keeping the English tra- definitely the best part, bedition alive with The Pink Door Tea cause there are so many House in the same space. possibilities, so many dif“It’s so cute,” Encinas said. “I never ferent ways that you can really had a little tea party before, and start a business,” Encinas now I get to have one every day.” said. “What I have learned She bought the building after a pri- and what I really love is all vate investor who wanted to convert it of the memories and expeinto a residential home backed out of riences that we are going to the sale. be able to give to the cus“I didn’t know anything about tea tomer.” when I started,” said Encinas, who Designated rooms Lupe Encinas bought owns Cactus State Insurance. “All I throughout the building The Pink Door Tea know, being in my background, I am include the Queen’s Parlor House. (Photos by Pablo Robles) Latina, all I know is the herbal tea. in the front area, the Grand “But here what I got to learn and what Tea Room and the PrinI’m still learning is tea is supposed to cess Room that caters to the “little tea the representation, and they made me be something that you sit down and re- drinkers.” Within the Queen’s Parlor look good in that.” lax (to enjoy). I’m always on the go, so there is a painting featuring two VictoThe Pink Door Tea House serves an that is a very hard thing for me to do as rian-dressed women having tea. array of loose-leaf tea options, includa mom and as a business owner.” “I asked a local artist — they are the ing its signature Pink Door Green Tea While the official grand opening was owners of Art of Fire in Peoria — I available hot or iced. The highlights in March, prior to reopening its doors, asked them to paint a painting for me are the afternoon tea menus. the building was renovated. Encinas to put in the beautiful room,” Encinas Guests can choose between the Elsaid. egant, Garden, Classic or Prince & She gave no di- Princess high teas. Each menu includes rection as to what a variety of sandwiches, salads and she wanted painted, desserts to go along with the tea that because she is “not customers choose. Breakfast and lunch an artist, and I don’t items are served outside of the afterknow what to do.” noon tea menu and can be ordered to “I found out she go. added me in,” En“My favorite tea so far, I would have cinas explained. to say, is the Pink Door, but I usually “This (painting) do, as I’m still learning, like my black represents the pre- teas,” Encinas said. “I like them strong, vious owners teach- so the Chinese Pinhead is something ing me about tea. that I am always recommending.” She’s passing on Prior to selling her business, Collins her knowledge and imparted her 26 years of knowledge to passing it on so I Encinas to help her get started. This tea set collection was acquried by owner Lupe Encinas at can keep it going, “We are just trying to bring people an estate sale. and I love that and in from the community and teach peo-
Glendale Star Staff Writer
ple like myself about tea,” Encinas said. “There are a lot of us out there.” The name reflects “something simple.” “I wanted something that as you are driving by to kind of stick out, something simple,” she said. “I have three boys, so pink is something that I had to get used to. That’s why you see the green (on the walls), because it is my comfort color.” Encinas went with pink as one of her soft tone color palettes and painted the front door the same color, thus creating the business name. The biggest challenge was finding fine china tea sets. “I found out pretty quickly that you can’t just walk into a store and find fine china,” Encinas said. “I started going around to antique shops, and I couldn’t find the quality that I wanted to bring in.” She found exactly what she was looking for at her first estate sale she visited. It was at the home of a woman who was moving into an assisted living facility. “This house looked like it had everything that I needed on the pictures that they posted of just table after table after table of little teacups and sets,” Encinas said. “The description of them were exactly what I was looking for.” She made an offer for every set available, along with an assortment of furniture that is also used in the tea house. “This is her life collection,” Encinas explained. “Every time her family would go out to different countries and states they would bring her a new set. “I purchased it, and they told her that it was going into a tea house and SEE TEA PAGE 16
