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Business & Tech

New Business Offers Chance to Take a Timeout For Tea

Urszula Cholewinska is renovating a historic Port Washington building for a new tea room and gift shop, called Baltica Tea Room.

After living in Port Washington for ten years, Urszula Cholewinska got to thinking it was about time for some tea, fully formulating her business plan for the soon-to-be Baltica Tea Room and Gift Shop.

"Right now we’re full-swing business planning and full-swing construction," Cholewinska said. "My favorite tea shop in my hometown (is what) really got me thinking."

She explained that tea drinking is very popular and an important ritual in Poland, and after spending all these years in Port Washington, she thought a tea room would be a welcome addition to the community.  

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"It’s the perfect place to relax, meet a friend," she said.

Cholewinska and her husband Dan Micha are hoping to open up the tea room this May at 223 N. Franklin St., the former home to G.L. Graff Jewelers. She plans on having room for 18 people to enjoy a sit-down tea service accompanied by some sweet treats. 

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She and her husband purchased the building for the Baltica Tea Room and Gift Shop in January.  Since then, they’ve been busy with construction and planning their new business venture.  The building is currently undergoing considerable renovations to achieve its original 1854 look.   

Beyond the sit-down tea service, Cholewinska will have gifts and tea for sale.  

"There will be an enormous amount of tea varieties available for purchase," she said.

She also plans on bringing in gifts from around the world, including items from Germany, Spain and her native Poland, and fair trade items will also be offered.  

Port Washington’s Director of Planning and Development Randy Tetzlaff explained that the renovations will strip away updates given to the building’s facade in order to return to the traditional Italianate style with arched windows and cream colored brick.  

Recently, the shiny, black Vitrolite tiles that surrounded the entryway and display windows was removed by contractors.  This tile, which has not been produced since 1947, is extremely valuable, according to Tetzlaff, and will be used for other historical renovations elsewhere.  

Of the restoration, Tetzlaff said, "The Main Street community is very excited."

Cholewinska hopes to have a website launched in the next week to update the community on how renovations are going; a sign hanging on the building says the tea room should open in May.

Until then, Cholewinska wants her business to kind of remain a surprise.

"I don’t want to give everything away," she said.

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