Gaston tea truck to expand into a new location

A Gaston County bubble tea truck is putting down roots in Belmont.

BoCha Bubble Tea owner Khushbu Patel said she is excited to expand the business, which was initially intended to be a brick and mortar location when she started it.

Just over a year ago, in May 2023, Patel made the decision to leave her corporate career behind and lean into creativity, she said.

Patel’s initial plans for opening BoCha were thwarted by a variety of hurdles including trouble finding the right place.

So, she opened up shop in the food truck which has long since been parked at the Ingco express gas station 2741 Lowell Bethesda Road in Gastonia.

Patel describes bubble tea, a drink often served with fruit-flavored jellies or milk and tapioca balls, as a fun drink.

According to Patel, she was drawn to open a bubble tea shop because Gaston County did not have any at the time.

She has enjoyed educating Gaston residents about the drinks, offering a long list of caffeine-free options for kids, and experimenting with flavors to make them unique, she said.

BoCha’s new location at the Imperial Lofts at 202 S. Main St. will feature an expanded drink menu, bubble waffles, and more.

While the tea truck will likely move locations, it will remain open along with the new location and will continue to offer a limited menu.

The tea truck is currently open noon-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-6 p.m. on Sundays.

Patel said the new location will likely be open seven days per week with expanded hours.

There is currently no timeline on renovation, so Patel does not know when BoCha's new location will open, she said.

Although opening BoCha Bubble Tea in 2023 did not go as planned, Patel said she would not change how it happened because she has been able to meet many community members while working the truck.

She said she hopes the community will enjoy the space at the dine-in location or stop in on the way to visit Stowe Park.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gaston tea truck to expand into a new location