 When you enter Sugar’s Tearoom and Gift Shoppe, in Forty-Fort, you step into the past, leave your troubles at the door, and lose track of time. A unique experience in the Wyoming Valley, Sugar’s is an afternoon getaway, a few hours of make-believe, and an escape from the day-to-day.
Cheryl Roman opened Sugar’s in March 2006 to share her passion for baking, entertaining, and, of course, the magic of having a tea party. Her passion is immediately apparent, whether she’s talking about the 70 varieties of tea offered; unique, cookie-cutter sandwiches; homemade scones; or the many regular customers she’s gotten to know over the years.
“We are a tea room. We’re eclectic with a twist,” Cheryl explained. “Some people might say Sugar’s is fancy. It is fancy, but with a comfortable atmosphere.”
Everything is served on fine china. Fun and funky hats, available in each tea room for guests to wear, add a touch of whimsy.
“A lot of people aren’t familiar with a tea room, and they don’t know what to expect,” Cheryl said about being the first tea room in the area. “Those who haven’t been to a tea room might worry about the right way to eat the sandwiches, but we just want everyone to feel comfortable.”
Cheryl makes having a tea party fun and exciting–– a time for people to spend quality time enjoying each other’s company without distractions.
In addition to the grand selection of teas at Sugar’s, the menu includes a variety of tea sandwiches, cream of chicken rice soup, a house salad with raspberry poppy dressing, three house scones–– chocolate chip, buttermilk, and cinnamon sugar–– and a fourth scone that changes daily. Scones can also be ordered in advance by the dozen. Gluten free and vegetarian diets can also be accommodated.
Kim Bender, a retired teacher from Mountaintop, is one of Sugar’s regular customers. Kim has been bringing her friends there for more than two years. She enjoys a tea party at least once a month, sometimes for a casual lunch, sometimes for a themed event hosted by Sugar’s Tearoom.
“I’m always made to feel unbelievably welcome by Cheryl, Pam, and the entire staff,” she said. “My friends and I are treated like royalty, and it has such a unique atmosphere.”
Like many regular customers, Kim loves introducing friends to Sugar’s and always makes time for a stop there with out-of-town visitors, assured they will be amazed by the experience.
There are seven tea rooms, each with a unique personality, which can be reserved for bridal showers, baby showers, and any other occasion, including lunch with friends. Red Hat groups, book clubs, and church groups also regularly book rooms at Sugar’s.
“We’ve even had a marriage proposal,” Cheryl said with delight.
They also host themed events and fundraisers, and decorate to suit each occasion. Reservations are required for tea events, and they often sell out months in advance. The first two events scheduled in 2011 are a Snowflake Tea on January 21st, at 6 p.m., and a Valentine’s Tea on February 11th, at 6 p.m., and February 12th, at noon.
The gift shop is every bit as fun and eclectic as the tea rooms. Quirky jewelry and eye-catching hats and handbags abound. Everything you need to make a good pot of tea, including all 70 varieties of tea, can also be purchased. The selection includes many that are familiar, along with some that are unusual and hard to find. Genmaicha, an exotic Japanese green tea with peeled rice, is just one of many unusual varieties offered at Sugar’s.
While Sugar’s Tearoom is a journey into the past, the company is also getting ready to break into the future. Its website, www.sugarstearoom.com, is being redesigned and will be live in time for the holidays. Eventually, Cheryl plans to sell specialty teas and gifts online. When the new site is launched, Sugar’s will also have a presence on Facebook and Twitter. Although Cheryl admits she’s more comfortable in the kitchen than in front of a computer, she’s looking forward to using these social networking tools to keep in touch with customers, announce tea events, and share her enthusiasm for good food, good friends, and a good cup of tea.
Tea is served Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and the gift shop is open on those days from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. While some customers stop in for lunch, reservations are always recommended and can be made by calling Sugar’s at (570) 714-4832. |
