Tea Scoop

Fresh tea, every time is what you can expect from Tea Scoop Boba Tea & Smoothie on South Cooper Street. Three years ago, in May 2021, Kevin Yu was between jobs when he decided to try something different.

“My field of expertise had always been in the biotech industry,” Yu remembered. “My friend was looking to find the perfect candidate to take over this store, which he put all his blood and sweat into. And that’s where I came into the picture.”

It was a bit of a learning curve for Yu at first, but the Arlington resident and now business owner, was excited for the change. Yu moved to Arlington in 1994 from Taiwan and went to Martin High School. After graduation, he went to The University of Texas at Austin before moving back to the area.

The philosophy at Tea Scoop is different than what you might see at other boba locations. They take their motto, “fresh tea, fresh mind” seriously.

“Other places when they make a drink, they use the pre-brewed tea pots. The goal for them is to make it fast. We don’t pre-brew anything,” Yu explained. “To differentiate ourselves, my friend who originally opened the store, introduced a new way for the customers to really enjoy high quality, fresh tea and drinks. He brought in modified espresso machines to brew tea leaves when a customer orders it. Ensuring that tea is only for you and it’s super fresh.”

Depending on if you want something sweet or refreshing, Yu and his employees can help you make the right drink choice. Some customer favorites include the Strawberry Berry with fresh strawberries, and Summer Fling with watermelon.

“We are truly a small local business,” Yu emphasized. “This is our only location right now, but the goal is to open a second or third shop one day here in the DFW area.”

You can learn more about Tea Scoop online at teascoopusa.com or on Facebook and Instagram. Or you can visit the One Start Development Center, on the second floor at City Hall from July 1 - 5, 2024, during Small Business Promotion week. The City’s Planning and Development Service Department is also hosting Customer Appreciation Week during the same time and will be providing refreshments and bottled water for the customers visiting the Small Business Promotion table.

The City of Arlington is highlighting East Arlington small businesses throughout 2024. Canales Furniture, another Small Business of Arlington, who has grown substantially in the last few years, wants to give back to the community and is sponsoring this program with the Planning & Development Services Department for the year 2024. In their new headquarters at 102 E. I-20 Highway, they have dedicated a training room for their growing community, including free English-speaking classes, citizenship classes, and teaching small businesses on how to utilize social media as a marketing tool.