Got $300,000 and love breast feeding? Open your own Tea Lounge!

Ye olde departed Court Street Tea Lounge. Coming soon to Ohio? Photo via NYMag

Brooklynites of even a few years’ vintage will remember the halcyon days of the Tea Lounge empire, when as many as three outposts of the popular cafe dotted the borough. Yet the cruel winds of economic downturn and real estate forced the branches to close, leaving just the famed cavernous Union Street location in Park Slope. It’s a staple to Slope culture, including local freelancers, musicians and babies that need a place to eat from breasts (hence the nickname “Teat Lounge,” in case you’re new to town). Now the cafe is looking to get into the real money: nationwide franchising! It’s not exactly going to be the next Dunkin Donuts: Fucked in Park Slope interviewed Lounge owner Jonathan Spiel, who said: “We’re selling the concept of community.” FiPS muses some more on whether you can package and export “community” around the world like so much artisanal mayo, but one commenter sums up many feelings about it: “Will you get Baby Shit Dust to sprinkle all over your new Tea Lounge Franchise like the original? Those couches at Tea Lounge? all full of baby shit.”

The franchising fees range from $145,000-$346,000, depending on how many breast-feeding nooks you want to build. They’re even holding a franchise party to kick the whole thing off May 31.

3 Comments

adamcolon May 8, 2012

Now that’s one hell of a headline! LOL

May 8, 2012 at 11:35 am

Reply
eric_silver May 8, 2012

No good on column A but a huge yes on column B. Are there any opportunities for that demographic?

May 8, 2012 at 2:06 pm

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- Tim Donnelly May 8, 2012
  
  also available in park slope
  
  May 8, 2012 at 2:23 pm
  
  Reply