ARLINGTON — Word is getting out. Sipping afternoon tea as they do at Buckingham Palace, with fine antique china in a fancy tea room and a three-tier tray of miniature scones, finger sandwiches and tarts is an enjoyable experience.
Adel Donegan has opened a third location for her tearoom business, Vintage Tea & Cake Co. at 677 Massachusetts Ave. in Arlington.
Donegan, who lives in Arlington, began her venture in 2015 with her first Vintage Tea & Cake in Belmont, at 129 Belmont St., as a takeout location and home base for her tea catering business that began three years earlier in her home.
Since then, her business has grown.
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As the pandemic took hold, Donegan reached a turning point. She could either throw in the towel or fulfill her dream of opening a tearoom.
“I decided to just try it out and see what happened, and then it kind of snowballed,” she said. “It was the best decision I ever made.”
In 2021, Donegan expanded her Belmont location, adding limited seating.
As requests poured in for tea reservations and private parties, Donegan realized she needed to open a second Vintage Tea & Cake location. She found space in Lexington Center, at 21 Muzzey St.
“We were always getting phone calls and didn’t have availability,” Donegan said. “That’s when we decided to open up Lexington.”
The Lexington location opened last year and is booked about six months out of the year with such events as bridal and baby showers, birthday parties for all ages, book club events and meetings.
“We provide really good service and we make sure our clients have a really good experience when they come in,” Donegan said. “It’s very bespoke.”
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When Donegan learned about a vacancy just a few steps away from her home, she saw another opportunity.
“We’ll be open as a tearoom during the day and in the evenings, we’ll have wine, beer and small plates,” she said.
Vintage Tea & Cake’s Arlington location is now open for afternoon tea, Thursday through Sunday, with seatings starting at 11 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m.
Next spring, Donegan plans to add evening hours for people to enjoy wine, beer and shareable plates like dips, charceuterie boards and deviled eggs. She is awaiting approval for a wine and beer license from the Town of Arlington.
Donegan hopes her business will bring a different energy to the area.
“I feel like Arlington really needs somewhere you can go before dinner, on a date or to catch up with a friend,” she said.
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