Tama Cafe, opened at 105 East Franklin Street in mid-October, brings a tea-focused alternative to more traditional coffee shops in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area such as Joe Van Gogh and Open Eye Cafe.
Formerly known as Tama Tea, Tama Cafe is part of a chain that recently rebranded to appeal to a wider audience. It offers several varieties of tea, coffee, snacks, and accessories and aims to provide an alternative to the various cafes around town, according to its website.
Founded in Wilmington by Rocco Quaranto, Kelly Struble and Wells Struble, Tama Cafe has three locations around the state, including the new Franklin Street location. The cafe cites its fun atmosphere and locally-sourced ingredients as some of its core values.
“We are very unique from our competitors in that we focus on unique drinks and food offerings that you can’t get anywhere else,” Quaranto said. “We focus on healthy, less sugary drinks and even have a large selection of vegan and vegetarian options.”
The snacks and drinks are made from local ingredients like dairy products from Maple View Farms and fresh produce from State Farmers Market in Raleigh. Handmade Wilmington furniture and artwork decorate the cool green interior.
Sophomore Annie Joseph has been to Tama Cafe several times. “It has such a nice ambience,” she said. “It’s a great place to try something new and chill out.”
The establishment offers a dry tea section where customers can peruse the several varieties of tea in stock. Employees stand by to answer questions about the product, as well as to offer suggestions to customers.
“I definitely recommend it to anybody who’s looking for a change of pace from the typical coffee shop,” junior Rachel Broun said.
Tama Cafe offers services beyond food, such as its “Think Tank” conference room, which can be reserved for free to clients looking for a quiet place to work.
University students frequent the tea joint, nestled conveniently near campus next to Starbucks.
“We are always evolving with different trends, seasons and customer requests,” Quaranto said. “[We are] always trying to offer a new product to please our customers.”
