According to a recent article from the Daily Herald, Ding Tea will have renovations coming soon, located at 2226 W Algonquin Road in Rolling Meadows.
A representative of Ding Tea was not immediately available for commentary upon What Now Chicago’s request.
While the overall timeline of this renovation has yet to be confirmed, according to the article, owner Hung Phi Nguyen’s vision for Ding Tea initially involved renovating what was previously the 1,391-square-foot Subway. The project was budgeted at $150,000, but the project encountered the headwinds of rising labor costs, material expenses, and supply prices. Additionally, an associated shipping fee from the chain’s Taiwan headquarters contributed to the unforeseen financial burden, elevating the total expenditure to $271,000.
In his quest for financial relief to navigate these unforeseen challenges, it is stated that Nguyen reached out to city officials. He highlighted the fact that, despite the tea shop being open and operational, there were still significant improvements and final touches that needed completion.
As a result, late last month, the city council approved a restaurant incentive package designed to provide much-needed support to Ding Tea. This relief initiative includes the refund of up to $5,000 in building fees, a partial rebate on food and beverage taxes (40% after the first year, 20% after the second, and 10% after the third), and a grant for both facade and interior improvements, potentially amounting to $10,000.
With this support, Hung plans to enhance the dining room space, and the tax refunds will be channeled into increased advertising efforts. Some of the building changes were listed as repairing damaged front and back doors that the shopping center’s landlord had declined to cover, according to the previously mentioned article.
Ding Tea is described as a unique tea shop, with it being the first Illinois location of this chain that specializes in milk and flavored teas, complemented by an array of desserts, including bubble waffles, mochi ice cream, and macarons. Some of these menu options are lychee-flavored teas, brown sugar tofu pudding, and more, according to the company’s Facebook page.
