Powell tea room to close after 19 years, owner announces new business plans

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — After 19 years, Lulu’s Tea Room will be closing its dining room in early 2025, according to an announcement made on social media Wednesday.

The owner of the tea room posted that the dining room will be closing on Jan. 17, 2025 because the rising costs of food, utilities, insurance and wages. The owner wrote that the issue was not a lack of business, but rather the cost to do business that is causing the dining rooms to close.

While Lulu’s Tea Room will no longer be open, the owner wrote that they will be opening a catering business in February 2025 for lunches and special events.

“This will hopefully allow me to stay in a career that I love. There will be days available for carry-out,” the owner wrote. “Thank you for 19 wonderful years. I am blessed to have been able to have an idea, work hard and have had success.”

The owner added that the tea room will still be taking reservations until Jan. 17.

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