Jenny Lin has spent a year without an Erie restaurant, but she never got over the drive to have one.
She started all three Chopstix restaurants, but sold them in 2020 because her partner had to move.
She owned Hong Kong, at 2887 W. 26th St., since 2010, but sold it in February 2023 because she had her eye on a bigger project ― the one she just realized with the opening of Tsaocha and Noodle Station 3, both at 506 State St., in the former Molly Brannigan's.
"I personally love bubble tea," she said about the newish (in Erie) tea-based drinks infused with tapioca pearls or fruit chunks or juicy bubbles sold at a few other places around town, such as Andora's Bubble Tea and Bubble House at the Millcreek Mall, as well as Bobamochi in North East, which opened last summer.
She said they brew the green tea that serves as a base for the drinks every morning. Then flavors, fruit bubbles and even dairy can be added to create one of hundreds of combinations. The tea cups are sealed before serving, and you get a mega wide straw that pokes through the foil and allows the fruit chunks and bubbles to come up with the tea when drinking. It's tasty, trendy, fun and it's hard not to compare the place to a Starbucks, but with sweetened colorful tea drinks in place of coffee.
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Before she began to build the tea house, Lin couldn't decide between bubble tea and a noodle place. Then she saw the opening of the spot vacated by the closure of Molly Brannigan's at 506 State St.
"This location was a surprise," she said. "And I wanted to open something here that I like."
Decisions, decisions
With 5,000 square feet, Lin had plenty of room, so she quit trying to decide between tea and noodles and went with both.
Both the tea place and noodle spot are new locations for franchise chains. The bubble tea house is called "Tsaocha" (Chinese for "pilgrimage" and "tea"). It's pronounced "Sow-chah."
Noodle Station 3
Originally, the noodle franchise name was "I Love Noods," but she said she didn't know the connotation in English and when informed, wasn't sure she liked it. As a result, Lin changed the name to "Noodle Station 3."
"It's up to the owner," what they call their restaurant, Lin said. There are touches that remind patrons of the first name, such as "I Love Noods" tiles worked into the decor above the tea counter. But now it's not the name of the place, it's just a fun little quirky part of the interior design.
Whether people come in for tea or noodles or both, she's happy.
'Hangout spot'
"I want to make it a hangout spot," Lin said. "For college kids and professionals."
She had that vibe working on one recent warm day when the shop, though quiet at 1 pm., soon filled up with a diverse crowd of people in their late teens and early 20s. By 2 p.m., it was hard to find a seat and people just stood around, sipping their bubble teas and chatting, like they might at a crowded bar.
"That makes me feel good," Lin said with a smile, while sipping a pineapple-based bubble tea, her favorite. She said she has been working on the restaurant for eight months.
"It was a big challenge to design, order the materials, and everything," Lin said. "This place is so big. My other (Chopstix) restaurants were ready in three months."
"But it turned out very well," Lin said, having to get up to help clear the line at the counter. "I was nervous about what was coming, but I'm happy about how it's turning out."
She said people are telling her it's exactly what Erie college kids want.
"They say, 'This is something I would have to go to New York to get,'" Lin said. "The recipe is from New York."
In addition to bubble tea, Tsaocha also serves Korean fried chicken.
The noodle shop, located in the back of the space, invites folks in with ultra-modern chairs and classy sleek decor. If you fell asleep in Erie and woke up in Noodle Station 3, you might think you were transported into Tokyo or New York, with bright light and a huge screen showing off selfies of customers.
If you sit down at one of the tables, you will be presented with a touchscreen that allows you to order both bubble tea and Noodle Station food, such as dumplings, ramen, noodle bows, pho and dim sum.
A robot named Bella Bot will bring it to you from the kitchen and/or the tea counter, and a human server will take the dishes off Bella's shelves and place it on your table, making sure everything looks OK and running to get a glass of water or anything else Bella isn't trained to do yet.
Lin said the menu will expand once the staff and business calls for them.
For now, she's satisfied.
"It's doing amazing," Lin said, clasping her hands together. "It's working."
Fast facts
Tsaocha and Noodle Station 3 are located at 506 State St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. They are closed on Sundays. For a look at the menu, visit Tsaocha/Noodle Station 3. For more information or to order for pickup, visit Tsaocha/Noodle Station 3 online ordering. For questions, call 814-315-1768.
Contact Jennie Geisler at jgeisler@timesnews.com or at 814-870-1885.
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