Royal Tea House closed, on sale in Great Neck Plaza

Janelle Clausen
Royal Tea House, as seen here in October 2017, is no more. (Photo from Google Maps)
Royal Tea House, as seen here in October 2017, is no more. (Photo from Google Maps)

Royal Tea House in Great Neck Plaza has officially closed, according to a sign posted on the door, with the business now “for sale” and the shades pulled down.

The restaurant had temporarily closed to “readjust” in order “to better meet your needs” in early August and briefly re-opened, before closing again and being put on the market.

Royal Tea House opened in February 2017.

The restaurant, an English-style tea house located at 1 Great Neck Road just off Middle Neck Road, offered a variety of teas and aimed to represent “quality, comfort, affordability and excellent hospitality,” a restaurant spokeswoman previously said.

Anita Liu, a salesperson listed for the business, said the decision to sell Royal Tea House came around two weeks ago and that so far there haven’t been offers. But, she said, there is a possibility another restaurant could open there.

This puts it in the ranks of other recent restaurant closures like Element Seafood, Ren Wen Noodle Factory, Ippon and Ruby’s Divine Indian Dining. Each lasted less than two years.

Ron Edelson, president of the Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District, said downtowns “need to adjust to the reality of the demographics” as they change.

In the case of Great Neck Plaza restaurants, Edelson said they either need to come equipped with a support network, offer unparalleled food and service, or find a way to become “part of the scene” to succeed like Millie’s or Lola have.

“Businesses seem to be doing OK. The restaurants are having major problems,” Edelson said. “In terms of that, people have thrown out various reasons for it.”

In a newsletter, the Village of Great Neck Plaza advises residents to “be on the lookout for seven new businesses” opening in the area in the wake of conditional use permit approvals.

Of those seven businesses, six are restaurants: Yahao Asian Cuisine, which is replacing Ippon at 6 Bond St., Station Plaza Deli at 14B South Station Plaza, Noir Bakery in Suite 7 of 25 Cutter Mill Road, Qilia Bakery at 28 Middle Neck Road, S+D Crab House at 105 Middle Neck Road, and Kitchen Melody in Suite 5 of 25 Cutter Mill Road.

The other business is Daniel Gale Real Estate, which is opening at 42B Middle Neck Road. This is the former home of Camp and Campus, a fashion retail store that closed last year after more than 60 years in Great Neck Plaza.

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