Escondido's efforts to reinvent its downtown by adding an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops and other businesses will get a boost next month when a Victorian-style tea room opens on Grand Avenue, merchants and business leaders said.
The Grand Tea Room will be the only tea room in inland North County when it opens some time in mid-June near the corner of Maple Street, said Louisa McGoon, a longtime Escondido resident who will own and operate the business.
Area residents seeking an authentic tea room experience, which often includes wearing ornate hats and feather boas, have been forced to travel to San Diego or to tea rooms within resorts along the coast in Del Mar and Carlsbad.
McGoon said she was inspired to open the business by the growing popularity of tea parties. While most customers are older women, McGoon said younger women and even men have become more interested in tea.
"I've had tea parties for up to 40 people at my house," said McGoon, a former restaurant industry executive. "It's about the ambience of sitting around with friends or family having tea and enjoying each other's company."
McGoon said she chose Escondido because it has an authentic and old-fashioned downtown where the City Council has been trying to attract more night life and upscale housing.
The city is also planning an elaborate pedestrian plaza less than a block from McGoon's business, and a seven-story luxury hotel has been proposed less than two blocks away.
Those projects are part of a continuing effort to revive downtown, which lost most of its anchor businesses when Westfield North County regional mall opened four miles to the south in 1986.
Thora Guthrie, chief executive of the Downtown Business Association, said a tea room is exactly the kind of business downtown needs to carve out a special niche that's different from the mall.
"This won't be like anything we have," said Guthrie. "There's a ceremonial aspect to it that people are fascinated by."
Guthrie said her organization, which advocates for downtown's roughly 700 merchants, encourages eclectic and unusual businesses to open. She said other things they'd like to see include a Scotch tasting room with cigars.
Vinnie Griffin, owner of Vinz Wine Bar on Grand, said the tea room will be great for downtown.
"It adds variety and it's something you don't see in many places," Griffin said. "It brings an upscale feel to the downtown, and it will bring another class of citizen."
McGoon, who has lived in Escondido for 30 years, recently got her plans approved by the city's Design Review Board. The only remaining hurdles are some permit approvals, she said.
The 1,900-square-foot site will have room for up to 40 guests, she said. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with large parties encouraged to book two-hour blocks of time. Sundays will be reserved for special events.
The cost for a full-service tea, which includes soup, sandwiches, fruit and desserts, will be $28 per person.
McGoon's husband, Bob, said the couple has spent about $100,000 renovating the site, which is next to the Mingei International Museum at 145 W. Grand. He said the goal is making events memorable for people.
"This is not like going to Starbucks --- it's an experience," he said.
Several friends and family members have been involved in remodeling the site, which will include an elaborate wall mural and Victorian decor.
For details, visit thegrandtearoom.com. And for details about tea rooms across the region, visit teamap.com.
Call staff writer David Garrick at 760-740-5468.
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