Fall 2007

Sister Stores

Afternoon Tea in Arizona

The 19th-century novelist Henry James once said, “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” For visitors to Abbey Gardens in Mesa, AZ, that hour is indeed so agreeable that it often stretches to 90 minutes or longer. “[Customers] often come here when they need some tranquility,” co-owner Maryellen Baxter says.

Abbey Gardens celebrated its 10th anniversary last December. Owners Baxter and Karen Tromp took over the business in January. Baxter says the business started as a gift shop, but as the demand for food and tea grew, the 2,600-square-foot shop evolved into a combination gift shop and tearoom.

Guests at Abbey Gardens are surrounded by the gift shop’s offerings. Furniture, like a full-sized bed or a curio cabinet, is used not only to merchandise items like purses, stuffed animals and pillows, but also to divide up the tearoom and create private areas. Items such as Carol Wilson stationery, Lady Primrose beauty products, Franz Porcelain and Royal Patrician English bone china are displayed throughout the tearoom. “It’s these higher-end items that boost the store’s profit margins,” Baxter says.

As a new shop owner, the challenge for Baxter is managing the store’s large inventory and balancing that with the responsibilities of running the tearoom. The tearoom serves from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the gift shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. When tearoom guests are gone, Baxter catches up on ordering and handles other retail details. She and Tromp (who has another part-time job) have a staff of 12 to help with baking, dishwashing and assisting retail customers.

Tea selections at Abbey Gardens include White Lion, Yorkshire Gold, Tea Forte, and Harney and Sons. Afternoon tea features a three-tiered tray with sandwiches like turkey on whole wheat with raspberry cream cheese, or Roma tomato and cucumber on white bread with basil butter. The second tier features items like signature Apricot Ginger scones, served with Abbey Gardens’ own lemon curd and Devonshire creams. The lower tier offers a variety of desserts, all handmade in the tearoom.

Baxter says she wouldn’t change a thing about the way the two businesses are set up, even if it has been that way since before she took ownership. Each entity draws its own customers, many of whom then visit the other side. Gift shop customers receive takeout menus and are encouraged to come back for tea. “The two businesses are quite compatible,” Baxter says. “We really see them as one package.”