When Tom and Betty Lee sold the Japanese restaurant they had owned for 27 years in Middletown and moved to Basking Ridge, they were seeking a change. “We loved the service industry, but it can be intense. It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice,” Betty says.
The couple wanted to spend more time with their teenaged children at home but still be hands-on in a business.
A fan of the Gong cha bubble tea franchise, they decided to open a location and determined that Prince Rodgers Avenue would be the perfect spot. A year after they opened in April 2023, they know they made the right decision to plant roots in Bridgewater. “We feel like we are at the epicenter of town: There are so many schools nearby, plus the library and the senior citizen residence,” she says.
“Bubble tea is basically milk tea. We brew four different types of teas as the base. From there, you can customize the sugar level and the toppings, which is what everyone loves,” she says.
Boba is made from the starch of tapioca, which is derived from the cassava root. When water is added, the starch becomes tender and achieves that irresistible chewy consistency. Naturally unflavored, the spheres acquire sweetness and the iconic dark color when they are simmered in brown sugar syrup. Lee and her team make these fresh every few hours. The colorful popping pearls are filled with fruit-flavored syrups. And beyond that, there are other toppings like white pearls, puddings, jellies and star jellies.
“The pearls are such an indulgence: You can call it a snack; you can call it dessert,” she says. “This is what my husband and I really like about bubble tea: Everyone comes into our store smiling because bubble tea makes everyone happy.”
Lee says that they decided to invest in opening a franchise since it worked better with their stage in life. “I love the Gong cha brand but I also have a strong interest in franchising: the concept and structure,” she says. “After owning our own restaurant for so many years, we wanted stay in the food and beverage industry but from a different angle. We felt that Gong cha already had a successful model with quality standards and if we combined that with our experience and work ethic, we could find a happy balance. You are still owning your own business and putting in the hard work, but we like that the foundation has already been laid out for us. We just need to follow the Gong cha vision and concept and do our best to make our store successful.”
Having worked for herself and now a franchise, she was also acutely aware of how franchises can lend extra support that independent businesses might not have in competing against corporate giants like Starbucks and Dunkin.
Considering owning a franchise? Lee’s No. 1 piece of advice. Do not think running a franchise is easy. She attributes their success to being hands-on owners and having a hardworking staff. Even her children pitch in at Gong cha.
“So often people buy a franchise and then hire people to run it. We hire and train every employee and work alongside them so they feel like they are part of our family. This is the mentality we were raised with. When you are a working owner, customers see you and they associate your location with quality because they know you are on top of it.” she says. “I didn't think you could get regulars at a franchise like we did at our restaurant. But wow! We have customers that are here almost daily.”
Browse the menu at GongchaUSA.com.
Pearl Milk Tea
Syrup
1/4 c brown sugar
2 tbsp hot water
Drink
1/2 c instant black tapioca pearls
6 black tea bags
2 c milk or dairy alternative
Ice cubes for a cold drink (optional)
Prepare the Syrup:
Add the brown sugar and hot water in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
Prepare Tapioca Pearls:
Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Cook the tapioca pearls according to package instructions. Drain the tapioca pearls and run under cold tap water for a few seconds, to stop cooking. Drain again and transfer into the bowl of syrup. Let marinate while preparing the bubble tea.
Prepare Bubble Tea
Add 1 cup of boiling water and the tea into a glass or a pot that’s easy to pour from. Let the tea steep for 10 minutes to make a strong tea. Strain tea with a very fine colander or coffee filter (or remove the tea bags).
Add 2 to 3 tbsp of the tapioca pearls along with the brown sugar syrup into each serving glass. Pour in 1/2 c of the black tea. Add up to 1 c of milk (or according to your taste).
Stir to mix before drinking. Adjust the taste by adding more tapioca pearls with syrup, tea or milk.
Serve the drink hot, at room temperature or add ice cubes.
The pearls are an indulgence: You can call it a snack or dessert.