Something fascinating happened last week on the local coffee shop scene…a tiny Greensboro tea shop was ranked number one in North Carolina on Yelp’s list of “The Coziest Coffee Shops in Every State.” This list was created by Yelp and reported by Insider based on visitor reviews.

Just think about how much competition was involved in winning a contest that included every coffee shop in the state! And the honor came as a total surprise to Sarah Chapman, the owner and proprietor of Vida Pour Tea on State Street.

I met Sarah in 2013 when she was selling loose leaf tea from a rolling suitcase and looking for a brick and mortar location and a bank loan. She had a very clear vision for her “tea shop to-be,” and became accustomed to hearing people’s advice against what she envisioned. Well intentioned friends and business advisors repeatedly told her things like “Greensboro is not ready for a tea shop,” and “You can’t afford a decent brick and mortar location,” and “No bank will ever lend you money.” The warning about bank loans was accurate, but Sarah’s vision did not falter.

Sarah Chapman believed that our community was indeed ready for a cozy, welcoming, wellness-oriented tea shop, a place where your stress would feel alleviated the moment you walked through the front door. A place where the customer would be treated as a special, unique individual. A shop where the proprietor would listen and would not seem to be in a hurry. A spot that would feel cozy and tranquil even though it would be hip and busy.

When Sarah found the location for Vida Pour Tea on State Street, her vision persisted. Remember that seven years ago, State Street was not exactly hopping. There was no brewery and many of the shops were struggling or closed. The recession and other factors had hit hard.

Fast forward to 2020 and State Street is bustling with activity from the yoga studios, children’s shops, wonderful gift shops, and of course a neighborhood brewery, Gibbs Hundred. Last year the area hosted events for families that included a street fair and a festive shopping season around the end of year holidays. Check out Shop State Street on Instagram.

My next post will give you a closer look at what’s inside Vida Pour Tea, the magical tea shop on State Street.