New cafe plans to bring international favorite to State College area later this month

A new State College bubble tea shop plans to stand out in a crowded market but is keeping details close to the vest.

TeaFe expects to open later this month in the North Atherton Place shopping center at 1633 N. Atherton St. That space is the former home of Carvers Deli & Barbecue, which closed in March 2022.

The cafe’s owners have been working on the TeaFe concept for several years, spokesperson Minh Vuong wrote in an email, and have had to readjust their ideas to make the shop stand out from the rest. TeaFe joins the crowded bubble tea scene in State College, which already includes Cafe Wow, Moge Tee, Momotaro, Mr. Wish, The Whale Tea and Teadori.

The cafe will offer bubble tea drinks along with standard milk tea flavors, fruit milk teas, smoothies and specialty milk tea series, Vuong said. The coffee menu will include some varieties that are new to State College or are not common in cafes. Vuong said that “the cafe’s vast menu and atmosphere/decor will definitely make it very unique compared to the others in town” but did not go into greater detail because the menu is supposed to be a surprise. The cafe’s website also offers little information about the food and drinks to be offered, likely for the same reason.

Those involved in the cafe are anticipating the opening, which is expected in late August.

“There has been a lot of planning to get this first location from concept to reality,” Vuong said. “We can only hope that what we offer to State College will result in the best reception and will lay the groundwork for future TeaFes to open.”