Customer-turned-owner Patricia Bice began operating the Serenitea Tea Room in February after former owner Archana Pyatt decided to put the business up for sale in December 2014.

[caption id="attachment_126051" align="alignright" width="460"] Patricia Bice took over the Serenitea Tea Room in Sugar Land in early 2015.[/caption]

Although Bice spent 10 years in the hotel and hospitality industry, she had no prior entrepreneurial experience. Nevertheless, when Bice saw the Sugar Land tea room was for sale, she decided to buy the business.

“I was coming here to have tea,” she said. “I always loved the place.”

The restaurant has not changed much under Bice’s ownership. It still offers lunch and a full English tea service five days a week. The business also sells teas, teapots and accessories as well as offers tea parties for up to 40 guests, she said.

Little by little, however, Bice is modifying things such as the menu.

Bice said running a restaurant was a new challenge: she serves customers and prepares food in the kitchen herself. In addition, the staff is mostly seasonal and made up of students home on school break.

Bice said she has received positive feedback from her clientele when they saw her behind the register for the first time.

“They know that we don’t have a place [like this],” she said.

Serenitea Tea Room

13889 Hwy. 59, Sugar Land 281-491-4588 www.serenitearoom.com Hours: Tue.-Fri. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.