Opening a restaurant is never easy, but trying to do so during a global health crisis adds even more pressure. “It’s been a challenge to say the least,” says Maggie Pajak, who co-owns Jane’s Tea House in Haddon Heights. “We signed our lease Friday March 13, which should have been a clue right there,” she says.
Like many others, the Jane’s Tea House team were hoping the lockdown would be short term. But when that didn’t happen, they had to get creative. “Fast forward to now, we’re literally living our tagline ‘Reinventing Tea Time,’” Maggie says. “As an event venue that can’t hold events during a pandemic, we’ve had to reinvent our business model.”
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Changing with the Times
For Jane’s Tea House, adapting means serving an a la carte breakfast and lunch menu; in addition to afternoon tea and catering. “We want our breakfast and lunch menus to stay true to who we are—a tea house,” Maggie explains.
They also have temporary outdoor seating for up to 32 guests along the sidewalk at tables with umbrellas. When at full capacity, the interior of the 2,200-square foot space seats 67 guests. “It’s a modern farmhouse design with a grey color pallet and accents of rose pink,” Maggie says.
Maggie co-owns the spot with her husband, Christian, and her sister and brother-in-law, Jenny and Vinny Bellizia. Maggie and Vinny handle everyday operations, while Christian is currently deployed in Afghanistan and Jenny works outside the tea house.
“The tea house is named after our mother, Jane, who loves afternoon tea and passed down that love to us,” Maggie says.
Tea Time at Jane’s Tea House
How many tea flavors can you expect from Jane’s Tea House? An ever-growing selection of over 50, in fact, including English favorites, black teas, oolong, rooibos, green, decaf, and HEMPtea. So far, their most popular choices are Buckingham Palace Garden Party, Belgian chocolate, blueberry pie, pina colada, and sweet watermelon. Click here to see the full list of teas.
If you can’t choose just one (who can blame you?), you can order a Flight of Tea for $4. The flight lets you taste test three teas.
Of course, the perfect tea time is incomplete without scones. With this in mind, Jane’s Tea House makes fresh scones on site. They always offer a minimum of five sweet scones as well as five savory scones at all times. At the moment, fan favorites include lemon blueberry, chocolate chip, bacon gruyere, and cheddar garlic and herb. Sweet scones come with clotted cream, seasonal jam, and lemon curd, whereas Savory ones come with Jane’s signature herb butter. Click here to see the full menu.
Kids aren’t left out of the mix, either. The tea house also offers child’s afternoon tea and a child’s bistro box.
Reinventing Tea Time
Jane’s Tea House is all about having fun, which is why they also host unique events each month. So far, the events include Tea with Sinatra (September), Wickedly Witches Tea Party (October), and Downton Abbey Tea Party (November). They also offer a selfie station. Check their social media for a secret word or phrase each month. If you mention it to your host, you’ll get a complimentary treat.
You can visit Jane’s Tea House at 602 Station Ave in Haddon Heights. For more info, click here to visit their website or you can click here to give them a call.
Jane’s Tea House FAQs
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All Photos: © Jane’s Tea House / Instagram
