Friday, September 22nd, the newest T4.Tea For franchise opened along SE 82nd Avenue, across from the Portland Community College campus. Later this month, Wing Kee Noodle will open within this same location at 2320 SE 82nd Avenue. The two establishments, run by a brother and sister team, will share dining space and kitchen resources but offer independent menus.
The bubble tea shop is the inaugural business of owner Yiwen Li. He was a fan of the T4 brand, and that attracted him to the franchise opportunity. “I personally like bubble tea and always go to the Clackamas [T4]. They have a lot of business, and I think this [brand] has potential. So I decided to invest in it,” explained Li. While looking for a suitable location for their joint venture, Yiwen Li and his sister Bingbing Li found the former Mixteca Mexican Restaurant building. They remodeled the interior within two months and only recently updated store signage showing both business names. Yiwen will focus on the T4 operations, and Bingbing will concentrate on the Wing Kee Noodle shop. Each restaurant will have its own counter and present a different dining aesthetic.
Yiwen Li describes the T4 boba shop as a universally accessible location satisfying the taste of all ages and groups in the area. Wing Kee Noodle will attract a more mature patron looking for a relaxed Chinese-style noodle shop. He feels that the two locations will complement each other, and the expanded menu options across both businesses will ensure guests find a satisfying meal in a single establishment.
Both siblings are new to food service operations, but they are not inexperienced. Their father has worked as a chef for over 20 years and was instrumental in setting up the restaurant’s kitchen for success. That solid foundation in the back-of-house operations and a lifetime living around the food service industry has the new restauranteurs confident they will build a thriving destination. The T4 Boba shop is offering a $2.95 opening weekend special price on drinks through September 24th. They are open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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