Barnes and Morgan
Tea house · Chinatown ·
Tea, bespoke clothing, and kombucha in a stylish, minimalist space
Tea, bespoke clothing, and kombucha in a stylish, minimalist space
"This minimalist tea shop isn’t just stylish in its aesthetics. Hidden in the back, owner Amir Morgan showcases his bespoke jumpsuits and vests in a showroom and studio. Customers peruse the items while he brews cups of green and white tea in the front. The calming space encourages customers to sit and take their time with their brews, and tasty baked goods are also on offer." - Zoe Baillargeon
"Launched in 2023 by Amir Morgan, a Black fashion designer who previously worked at Nike, this loftlike Old Town shop — also known as “Tea and Threads” — features exposed-brick walls and sells vests, smocks, hats, and bags designed by Morgan alongside a branded collection of loose teas. For Morgan, raised Muslim in North Carolina, the teahouse is a place of connection: “So Tea and Threads is really a community center, a gathering point for fashion, art, music, and education,” he said. He also highlighted Old Town’s historical mix, noting, “When Oregon became a state in 1859, the first Black-owned business was a men’s furnishings and mercantile shop owned by Abner Hunt Francis, his wife, and his brother.” A cross-promotion with the local restaurant gave reservations to the first 300 shoppers and, in his words, “More than a thousand people came out. The line went for blocks. Visitors saw firsthand that Old Town was not terrible. The community realized that we’re stronger together.”" - Tony Perrottet Tony Perrottet Tony Perrottet is a historian and journalist based in New York City. He contributes to Smithsonian Magazine, The New York Times, and WSJ. Magazine, and is the author of six books. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"I visited Barnes and Morgan, a hybrid tea shop and fashion house, enjoyed a pot of one of the shop’s blends while browsing clothing from designer Amir Morgan." - Janey Wong
"This Old Town tea shop and fashion house in Old Town, stylishly appointed, is a nice spot for the tea-curious, with a simultaneously concise but wide-spanning menu of loose-leaf and bagged teas. Oolongs and jasmine pearls steep in pots before arriving in china tea sets; while waiting for tea to finish steeping, stroll through the back room to check out one-of-a-kind overall sets and vests." - Nathan Williams
"In Old Town–Chinatown, Barnes & Morgan, a tea shop and fashion house run by friend of the Kann team Amir Morgan, served as the site where 300 October reservations were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis; to claim one people had to come between noon and 4 p.m. with an active Resy account tied to a credit card and make a food, beverage, or clothing purchase so a receipt with a number could be shown to a Kann team member who would assist in making the reservation. The pop-up was intended to boost another Black-owned business and give people access to hard-to-get Kann reservations, with remaining October slots slated to be released online at noon on September 1." - Janey Wong