Victorian Tea House Evokes Holiday Charm

If there was every a cozy spot that just evoked holiday cheer, it's the 1880 house Ray Vorisek transformed from dilapidated firetrap into Victorian masterpiece housing his flower shop.

But as charming as the Heights Flower Shoppe is, the real treasure is just upstairs. In the 18 months since its opening, the Victorian Tea House Cafe has earned a well-deserved reputation as a spot for a cozy get-together or an intimate gathering.

It has to be intimate - the tea shop only holds 20 people, Vorisek said.
"It's got a lot of character and charm. We have theme rooms, all with places for people to enjoy varities of English-style teas," he said.

And he doesn't mean just a cup of Earle Grey. The tea shop offers cream tea, afternoon tea, light tea and royal tea. For those who are more into java and don't know the intricacies of the British tea customs, that means the tea is accompanied from anything ranging from clotted cream and scones to what would be the equivalent of a meal.

"It was a labor of love," Vorisek said. He and his wife Cheryl had spent unforgettable vacations in Manchester, Vermont, and they noticed that ground level stores often had intimate shops in the upstair spaces.

That was something the couple wanted to repeat when they purchased their Victorian white elephant nine years ago.

"It didn't have windows or doors. It was falling apart. We spent years restoring it," Vorisek said.

While the flower shop has been doing a nice business in the years since it was opened, the tea shop was always in the back of his mind, he said.

"It's sort of a cross between a gift shop and a bed and breakfast," Vorisek said. "The idea just kept evolving."

Nothing about the tea shop looks like a store or even a restaurant. Vorisek took advantage of the space to display a wide variety of delightful knicknacks, furniture and other items to make the space lush, Victorian and homey.

And it's all for sale. "It just worked out well," he laughed.

Just because the Christmas season is the perfect environment for gussying up the joint, it won't end on Dec. 31. Vorisek has plans for a Winter Tea with homemade soups and desserts, and to expanding the shop's business into hosting charity teas and other such events.

Prices for the ambiance and the food range from a reasonable $10 to $25. The shop at 209 Boulevard is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but because of the limited space in which the teas are held, reservations are strongly suggested, Vorisek said.

For more information, visit their website or call 201-488-6651.