The Owners of Alice’s Tea Cup May Sell Their Decades-Old Business | Eater NY

"Burnt out by the pandemic, I report that owners Haley and Lauren Foxtell say they may be looking to sell their decades-old tea shops; the small chain began on the Upper West Side in 2001 with an afternoon-tea dining room inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and later expanded to the Upper East Side (2005) and Brooklyn Heights (2019). I note the business has struggled with staffing shortages, pandemic regulations, poor weather, and the difficulty of taking afternoon tea outdoors, since the bulk of its business comes from indoor seating and events and many customers are children under 12 who have not yet been vaccinated. As a destination for family gatherings, kids’ tea experiences, and birthday, baby and bridal parties, the owners say there’s no easy pivot, and they are now seeking investors or an owner to carry their vision into the future." - Luke Fortney