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Allison Hudson Mingle and Corey-Beth Travaglini were recently faced with a decision.
How could they use a one-room space adjacent to and downstairs from Will’s Place Recovery Center?
“We weren’t sure exactly what to do with it,” said Mingle, the founder of the center who also serves as its president. “We wanted to tie it into our mission and into what we do in a way that fosters outreach and healing.”
Mingle and Travaglini, the facility’s marketing and community engagement coordinator, then decided to take a field trip to Charlotte to find out what other recovery centers offered. There they learned that several operated similar shops within their facilities, and the concept of operating a tea bar at Will’s Place was born.
“Both Corey-Beth and I are fans of the ‘Friends’ TV show, so we decided to use that concept in our interior decoration,” Mingle said.
The shop is brightly painted in blue, white and orange patterns, with a bright orange couch, similar to the one in the sitcom, situated on one wall.
“Jack Williams did the painting and artwork for us,” noted Mingle.
The shop’s grand opening was held on Nov. 12 as part of the open house marking the eight-year anniversary of the founding of Will’s Place.
It is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, according to Travaglini.
“Business has been pretty good since we opened,” she said. “It’s a nice place for our clients who are early for an appointment, or who have completed an appointment and are waiting for a ride to relax. It also is a place where the community can learn more about who we are and what we do.”
While all proceeds from the shop will support programs that benefit the clientele of Will’s Place, the two do not foresee Communi-tea as being a primary fundraiser for the center.
“We don’t expect it to be a huge money-maker,” Mingle said, and Travaglini added that the tea shop employs no paid staff.
“The shop is operated by our volunteers,” she said, “and if we can get some additional folks, we can expand our operating hours. We also do not charge a set price for the tea we serve, but we accept and appreciate donations.”
With the shop presently attracting walk-in business, the two have plans to make the shop available as a rentable space for small meetings and community functions.
“One of our Will’s Place groups is meeting here on Thursday nights,” Mingle said, “and we would love to make it available for Bible studies, book clubs, birthday parties and similar events. We also plan to offer a number of events such as garden tea parties, garden event rental opportunities, local meet-and-greets with authors/artisans, tea socials, tea and meditation circles, community wellness tea talks, and cultural tea experiences.”
Travaglini added that Communi-Tea will be open on Dec. 14 during the annual Albemarle Christmas Parade, and will be serving hot chocolate.
The shop’s tea menu includes a number of loose leaf tea varieties, all of which are fair trade certified, as well as an assortment of grab-and-go snacks from local bakeries and merchants. Customers can also get orders to-go and can also purchase teas “by the pot” for take out.
“We also carry a number of vendor items,” added Mingle. “These include books that are recovery-based, wellness-inspired, spiritually care driven and socially conscious. In addition, we have retail gifts such as recovery coins, sobriety T-shirts and apparel, crafts by local artisans and vendors, handmade jewelry and holistic wellness items such as essential oils.”
“Our goal is to foster community connection, outreach, and healing,” summarized Mingle. “We aim to create a nurturing environment where everyone is invited to uplift their senses, and each other, and we desire for Communi-Tea to be a place that positively engages our community.”
Communi-Tea is at 540 N. 1st St. in Albemarle. Call 980-581-8001.

Toby Thorpe is a freelance writer for The Stanly News & Press.

Tea flavors offered include:
● Floral Roobios
● Lemon Mint Chamomile
● Berry Harvest
● White Pomegranate
● Apple Vanilla
● Golden Monkey
● Vanilla Chai
● Purple Tea Trio (This is a low caffeine collection of fair trade teas that helps support a farmer named Agnes in Kenya and her two children.)