The Willow Glen Resident

Area couple plans new tea, pastry, retail shop on Avenue

Tea Totaler set to move into the space left by the Daily Squeeze

By Cecily Barnes

Many residents see the arrival of Jamba Juice, Noah's Bagels and Peet's Coffee and Tea in Willow Glen as a momentum-gaining trend toward a strip-malled Lincoln Avenue. However, the opening of a locally owned and operated tea bar in one of Lincoln Avenue's most lucrative retail locations could disprove this theory.

In less than three months' time, Willow Glen residents Don and Doreen Araki will turn the paper-windowed storefront that once was the Daily Squeeze into the Tea Totaler. At about the same time, locally owned Mio Vicino's will open in the Electrical Appliance building center, ushering "unchained" upscale shops onto the Avenue.

In addition to a variety of teas, the Tea Totaler will sell French pastries and other snack items such as smoked salmon.

"It's going to be totally different than how people perceive tea today," Don Araki said. "It will be targeted toward young people and be very professional and clean."

The Arakis say they conceived the idea for the bar after many years in the business--Doreen worked for Lisa's Tea Treasures, and Don's family grows teas in Japan.

"We're going to be a little more upbeat and a little more modern than the tea parlors that are out today," Doreen Araki said.

The Tea Totaler will open for business just months after Willow Glen's three new chain stores do the same. And while the Totaler will have many beverage-selling neighbors--Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Company, Starbucks, Peet's Coffee and Tea and Into the Looking Glass--the Arakis say they're not worried.

"We're totally different," Don Araki said. "It's an old tradition with a new twist."

When asked about the new twist, Don Araki cryptically asserted that the community will just have to wait and see.

Although the Arakis signed landlord Dave Caton's lease in July, they don't envision opening until mid-January. Don and Doreen say they're planning quite a remodel job and still must obtain a building permit from the city of San Jose.

"We wanted to be open already, but it's been taking longer than we expected," Don Araki said. "We're doing it as fast as we can."

Neighboring business owners say they're thrilled that the empty eyesore will finally be brought to life.

"It will probably just bring more people down here," said Phil Cullen, manager of the Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Company. "Hopefully it will help business."

Don and Doreen Araki are not novices at starting a business. Nine years ago they opened a tree-trimming service called the Tree Surgeon. They've also been busy raising their two young children. Fortunately, juggling all their responsibilities will be easier, given that the Tea Totaler is only blocks from their Willow Glen Way home.

"Nobody's ever done a tea shop like this," Doreen Araki said. "It's going to be a lot different than anything that's out there."

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