Victorian Tea Service Offers Gracious Living One Cup at Time

Since 2009, periodic engagements have transformed a quiet home on Hillsdale Avenue into a Victorian tea room, complete with antique china, fresh flowers, delectable finger foods, and pots of Earl Gray.

For homeowner and hostess Jean Luck, the business is an extension of a lifetime hobby.

"Ever since I was a girl, I've had tea parties," said Luck. "It's a nice little hobby that has turned into a lot of fun for me."

Like many businesses, Luck's started with a favor. A baby shower tea service for a friend's niece was so well received that guests were soon requesting her services for other engagements. Partnered with her daughter Andrea, Luck brought food and table settings to parties both in area and locations within an hour's trip from her home. Whether it was a party in West Virginia, a 70-person church luncheon, or a six-person tea service down the road, Luck and her daughter provided, transported, and set up all the necessary items to make the experience something to remember.

As word of mouth grew, so did the workload. Said Luck, "It was a lot of fun planning and working with my daughter, but it got hard for us both."

To afford more time with her family, Andrea quit in 2009. With the help of her husband, Luck managed a few outstanding engagements, but it was clear that the traveling tea services were becoming more of a burden than a blessing. Instead of packing it in altogether, she made the decision to bring the guests to her.

"All the remodeling and restoration work on the house had already been done for years, " said Luck. "I've always enjoyed antiques and vintage things, and we have a lot of them around the house. It just lended itself well to having a nice atmosphere when people come in for the teas."

Luck likes to have a minimum of six people for teas, but stresses that the number of guests is flexible, as is the $20 donation per person. What isn't flexible is the quality of experience for the tea services. Parties are brought into the parlor where there is a place setting for each guest. Tea is poured, snacks are served, and conversation is shared. The home setting, Luck believes, is what sets her service apart from others.

"Most tea services are in restaurants or hotels. I offer the home experience," said Luck. "The experience is more intimate."

Opening her home may have made things easier for self-described homebody Luck, but there was always the chance that incoming parties could cause issues in the neighborhood, particularly with parking on the already-cramped Hillsdale.

But between the support of her immediate neighbors, the consideration of her guests, and the space between engagements, few problems have arisen. Because most of her traffic comes from word of mouth, Luck's schedule is never terribly busy.

"It's not hugely intrusive. It doesn't take much of our time," said Luck. "I try to keep a low profile. We don't want to be tied up every weekend."

For a woman who loves nurturing and hostessing, running the tea services is akin to charitable work. For Luck, it's not just the pretty dishes or delicious treats or warm tea that brings people to her parlor. It's the promise of conversation and relationship-building, the promise of time shared among loved ones.

"In my view, it's more of a ministry than a business," said Luck. "It's having people in and offering some gracious living for a few moments before they go back out in the busy world."

Reservations can be made at 412-561-3238.