The Tower District or “The Neighborhood” as many locals call it is known for its unique style.
Most of the businesses here are small and family owned but are still bringing clientele more than ever in the heart of Fresno. But one business that is branching out and will soon be opening its doors across town is Teazer.
Teazer World Tea Market has been open since 2003 in the Tower District, and has made a name for itself due to its assembly of international teas and a relaxing atmosphere. It’s no surprise that another location has opened in downtown and the third location will soon open in the River Park shopping center.
“I bowed to deliver a good product that I can give to the customer” says co-owner and founder Ann Wen-yi Liao. Ann was born in Taiwan and grew up in a Chinese herb shop where she first learned about tea making from her grandparents. Ann was a student at Fresno City while working at a Japanese restaurant with her soon to be co-partner.
“All walks of life and all different cultures have the subject of tea in common, tea brings people together” says Ann in explaining what her vision for Teezer was. Not everyone is happy about the decision to move the tea sanctuary across town, some believe that Teazer is losing its small business ideal and “selling out.”
“I never want to put a cap on what I can do, people need to understand that one person can’t control a business too much, they are not here when I have to battle with my own life to keep this place opened,” says Ann on expanding. One supporter is Christina Grajales, a regular at Teazer, and a partial owner of Charlollete’s Bakery, who said, “Her being here has brought so much to the neighborhood; everybody flocked here when it opened.”
“She’s a smart business woman and saw an opportunity to open in a different atmosphere,” said Grajales of Wen-yi’s decision to expand. Grajales said her family was also approached about opening another location in the downtown area but refused it because she prefers to stay a small family business. “We don’t have enough employees, but we decided to make this one as great as it can be,” says Grajales.
Ann believes that employees will come as the business grows, this will provide many job opportunities for people in every community. “We always have to incorporate and provide for people not just in our community, but in other areas of the city as well, its how small businesses help in our own way.” Ann feels fortunate to have a lot of friendly people working together, and expects the same for the other locations. Many northeast and northwest residents are excited about the new location in River Park “We have a good product and interact well with customers, people always tell me that they like my place but it’s too far to drive.”
Leo Rios, the owner of Café Corazon which moved locations from Downtown Fresno to the Tower area in the summer, said he too has chosen not to expand if an offer comes along. “Our business vision is to just be part of a small community in Fresno,” he said.
Ann has no intention to forget what she calls her “sanctuary” and very first location that began it all, “We are still here, and the first thing I did was revise this place,” but this doesn’t narrow her interest of creating nice places in a city that needs much rejuvenation.
As she mops the floor and sets up every morning, Ann wants people to know that she is no “sell out” and still cares very much about her business and to appeal to more people and different areas of the city; she wants more places where people can be themselves, “Every place has its own seed, of course you have to give it direction but it’s still its own, each tea place will have its different cultures.” When asked about Teazer ever becoming a nationwide franchise, Ann was uncertain of what the future holds for the Tea World Market “I take it one step at a time, I need to know the how before the when.”
