Solely Tea, NYC’s first boba and sneaker store, opened on May 22, 2021. The owners, Amy and Kenney, are second-generation Chinese American siblings. Their father came to America from Fujian, China, when he was 19. He first worked at Cantonese restaurants and later saved enough money to open his grocery store on Allen Street. Amy and Kenney grew up in Chinatown and had fond memories of going to school and visiting the local shops and restaurants on Eldridge Street.

In December 2020, Amy graduated with a bachelor’s degree in management and marketing. Shortly after graduating, she was at her creative marketing internship when Kenney first brought up the idea of opening a sneaker store.

A rising senior in high school, Kenney has always been entrepreneurial, reselling candy and soda from wholesale clubs to his peers. Over three years, he saved up enough money to buy sneakers, intending to open a sneaker store in the future.

The sibling duo decided to combine the sneaker store with boba drinks as it wasn’t a concept they’d seen before in Chinatown. They scouted for a suitable location to open their first shop and eventually settled on a spot not far from their father’s original grocery store on Allen Street. Amy shares that the “most rewarding part [about starting her business] is going back to Chinatown to do it. It’s like coming back home.”

The siblings are also extremely focused on community and have streetwear and artwork available for sale from local artists and designers. Amy, in particular, was heavily involved in community organizing work during undergrad and envisioned turning her storefront into a space to bring people from all different walks of life together. They already have two events lined up.

Go check ’em out and let us know what drink was your fave! I tried the lychee yogurt drink with lychee jellies, which was the perfect treat on a hot summer day.

📍 Solely Tea
111 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002