Alice’s Tea Cup Saved by New Owner — With a Comeback in the Works Amidst Financial Woes | Eater NY

"A whimsical, Alice in Wonderland–themed tea cafe that opened on the Upper West Side in 2001, it’s long been known for serving around 100 teas, finger sandwiches on tiered stands, cakes and scones and for delighting families—kids could wear glittery fairy wings while experiencing high tea. Over the years it became a neighborhood favorite and hosted celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Conan O’Brien, the Olsens and John Oliver. The sisters Lauren and Haley Fox say they never fully recovered from the pandemic and faced years of complicated financial woes—publications reported unpaid bills in figures between $600,000 and $230,000, and The New York Times reported the business received $800,000 from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund—leading them to file in Manhattan Supreme Court an “assignment for the benefit of creditors” as they shopped for a buyer. Despite earlier reports that the brand was shuttering, the owners say all three locations (Upper West Side, Upper East Side and Brooklyn Heights) will stay open after they “found the right people to pass the baton to,” and that new leader Jeni He plans to be faithful to the core concepts and brand, with promises of “more chapters to be opened in upcoming years.” The founders also recall that when the Upper West Side location was being built around Sept. 11, people felt “safe, comforted and normal” sitting down for a pot of tea and a scone." - Emma Orlow