When Margo Wells opened her tea shop, she wanted to create a place where community and tea were easily accessible.

Wells, an Air Force veteran, opened the doors to FestiviTea back in December 2020, after catering tea parties for years. An avid tea enthusiast, her passion pours into the store, from the delicate china to the shelves of unique blends and flavors.

Wells opened the shop following the closure of another tea shop across town, hoping to fill the void with a public tea room. The shop offers tea to-go, tea by the cup or pot and local baked goods.

“It’s about making tea fun and approachable to everyone, and really enjoying each cup,” she said.

At its heart, the shop centers around community. The location hosts about three to four events each week, including crafting workshops and book clubs that highlight local authors. Wells works to keep the classes affordable to encourage that sense of community among participants.

Outside of tea, the store also sells items made by local artisans in its “bouTEAque,” featuring goods like jewelry and handmade pottery.

“A lot of those vendors also teach classes,” Wells said. “So it’s a place for people to not only sell their products, but share their love of their art.”

Wells’ love of tea was sparked at an early age. The former engineer described her childhood as unconventional, moving around often. But when with her grandparents, sitting down and drinking tea, there was stability.

“Whenever I got to see my grandma and grandpa, we would sit and have a cup of tea, and it was just very comforting to me,” she said. “I think that was the appeal from the beginning. It was just a very grounding experience.”

Since then, Wells has traveled around the world living in different tea-centric cultures in places like Japan and England.

“Experiencing the Japanese tea culture, and just traveling around the world after that, and seeing how it’s embraced in so many other countries, I was hoping to see more of it in the United States,” she said.

As a veteran and former engineer, opening a tea shop is quite the change of pace for Wells, who has shifted from more male-dominated career fields to a more feminine space.

“Being in the military and experiencing different cultures, it’s given me confidence to take on challenges that I may not have been willing to take on otherwise,” she said. “I probably have more confidence to do that because of my experiences.”

Ultimately, Wells hopes this space gives people a place to relax, socialize and enjoy tea. Someday soon, she envisions a garden outside, more space to gather.

“It’s a self-care activity. … My personal desire for this business is to dissolve the myth that tea is something that needs to be fussy,” she said. “It can be just a cup of tea at your kitchen table, and that can be special. Every cup of tea can be special.”