Sharetea
Preferred Sq. Footage: 900-2,000 s.f.
12-Month Anticipated Openings: 30
The chain has aggressive expansion plans with around 30 new units in the works for 2023 and up to 40 new locations for 2024. Sharetea looks for sites in untapped markets in Arizona, Maryland, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oklahoma, Michigan and North Carolina. Currently units are in the works in Visalia, Calif., Mobile, Ala., Naperville, Ill., Colorado Springs and Castle Rock, Colo. Downtown, street-front, power center and regional mall sites are targeted. The chain features tea leaves shipped directly from Taiwan and has a variety of tea and coffee drinks including milk teas, fruit teas, tea mojitos and ice-blended drinks.
7 Leaves Café
Preferred Sq. Footage: 1,000-2,500 s.f.
12-Month Anticipated Openings: 6+
The tea brand will add new units to San Diego, Gardena, San Gabriel, Fountain Valley and Monterey Park, Calif., as well as Duluth, Ga., the first store for the state. The chain is also rumored to enter Arizona and Florida for the first time soon. Freestanding pad, shopping center and regional mall sites will be targeted. The menu offers a variety of drinks, as well as handmade macarons with flavors such as Rose Water and Sea Salt Carmel.
Gong Cha
Preferred Sq. Footage: 800-1,000 s.f.
12-Month Anticipated Openings: 5+
The London-based bubble tea brand plans rapid U.S. expansion with a flagship unit or two in the works for Chicago. Also, watch for new locations coming to Houston, Pearland, Texas, Nashua, N.H., and Bridgewater, N.J. This summer the company hired a new CEO with executive experience from Dunkin’, Subway and Yum! Brands to help with expansion. The chain was founded in Taiwan has 260 locations in North and South America, with plans to double that store count. Downtown, street-front and regional mall sites will be desired. The menu includes traditional teas, coffees, slushes and milk teas. Rumor has it that the chain wants to add food to the menu soon.
Tastea
Preferred Sq. Footage: 1,300-1,400 s.f.
12-Month Anticipated Openings: 3
The tea and smoothie chain will add three new locations to Southern California with units planned for Torrance, City of Industry and Silver Lake. The chain currently has 27 locations in California and Arizona. Downtown and street-front sites will be targeted. The menu includes a variety of teas, milk teas, smoothies, coffee and slushy freezes with unique flavors such as Sea Foam Jasmine and Yummy Gummy. The chain also offers some small bites such as “Karate” chicken and fries.
Chip Cookies
Preferred Sq. Footage: Varies
12-Month Anticipated Openings: 1+
The gourmet cookie retailer will venture into the new state of Colorado with plans to add 10 to 15 units in the Denver area in the coming years. The brand also plans to add new franchise locations in its home state of Utah, where the company recently sold out all available territories. Chip Cookies currently has 11 units in Utah and Idaho and there are rumors of a Park City location in the works. Downtown, street-front, lifestyle center and non-traditional sites will be targeted. The chain, which started as a delivery company, is known for its original chocolate chip cookies plus rotating weekly flavors such as the Biscoff chip cookie.
