MOUNT GREENWOOD — After three years in business on Kedzie Avenue, Mosaics Boutique and Tea will close in the coming weeks.
The Mount Greenwood tea shop opened in December 2022, offering a wide variety of loose-leaf teas at 10448 S. Kedzie Ave. The business announced its upcoming closure in a Jan. 21 social media post.
“The people we have met here have been great,” Leslie Chism, the shop’s co-owner, told Block Club. “It’s been a great experience. We have helped so many people with certain ailments. Mount Greenwood is an awesome neighborhood to be in. The community was so kind to us.”
While Chism and her husband opened the business in 2022, her passion for tea developed much earlier.
“Tea relaxes me. It gives me a peacefulness,” she said.
Chism and her husband would often travel to different shops to get to know tea owners across the city.
When the couple bought the building in Mount Greenwood, they knew exactly what to open there.
“We wanted it to be something that we were passionate about. Tea became the obvious choice that we were both into,” she said.
Mosaics Boutique and Tea focused on building community through an afternoon tea room within the boutique space. The service was centered around creating an ideal space to enjoy tea.
“We hosted lots of book clubs and other groups, including tea parties. We had lots of nice events, community members that will really leave a nice lasting impression,” she said.
The business also participated in nearby farmers markets and festivals, including the Chicago Tea Festival. Chism said she still plans to participate this year.
Chism said she is closing the business to enjoy more of her retirement and spend time traveling across the country. Originally from Philadelphia, Chism previously worked as a business executive. After retiring, the tea shop became a passion project.
“Tea was a great passion and hobby,” she said. “It has been a beautiful thing to have individuals who may not have been exposed to tea to find tea through Mosaics Boutique and Tea. We appreciate everything that the community has done and ways in which we’ve also been able to support them through fundraisers and donations.”
One part of the business Chism was most proud of is Mosaics Boutique and Tea’s nonprofit CommuniTEA Development initiative, which raised money for local events and causes.
The building that housed Mosaics Boutique and Tea has been sold. Chism does not know what the storefront will be used for in the future.
As the business prepares to close, different items are for sale, including commercial equipment and furniture. All remaining tea inventory — which includes a variety of black, green, herbal, wellness and mocktail-inspired varieties — are also for sale. For more information, visit the business’s Facebook Page or website.
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