On Aug. 23, Tin Tea owner Chau Truong ’24 fulfilled a long-time dream of hers: moving her restaurant downtown. The pink shark logo of Northfield’s beloved bubble tea and Vietnamese food joint opened up shop in a storefront in Division Street.
Tin Tea spent the last few years in a spot located off of Jefferson Road. The spot, according to Truong, “treated them well,” but left some things to be desired, such as the lack of restaurant equipment and distance from St. Olaf and Carleton. Truong, who founded the restaurant during her sophomore year at St. Olaf, said in an interview with The Olaf Messenger that she “always planned on moving downtown,” and the opening of a Division Street storefront with a commercial kitchen space was just the opportunity they needed.
The move has come with a number of obstacles, the most daunting of which is currently the installation of a commercial hood — boasting a six-figure price tag — and its drawn-out installation process that Truong expects to last into October. The completion of the hood, along with the rest of the kitchen, will allow the restaurant to cook more food in-house, rather than outsourcing dishes and heating them on-site.
Truong is hoping to expand the culinary side of things, featuring more traditional Vietnamese street food while still preserving the casual cafe vibe of the restaurant; she intends to stick to “small dishes,” keeping the focus on the tea side of things.
“It was great to have a full refresh,” Truong said. “We have been able to start everything over again, from training manuals to hiring new staff members.”
Troung thanked her family for being supportive during the move, particularly her father for his do-it-yourself skills. She hopes to create an environment where college students feel comfortable hanging out — a more socially-oriented setting than a cafe, but without the mayhem of a bar.
A number of events are already in the works, including a trivia night with St. Olaf Director of Student Activities Brandon Cash ’16 and candle-making classes. In the long term, she plans to keep working to supply the town’s residents and students with boba galore, solidifying the shop’s place in the community alongside other longtime Northfield classics.
