Argo Tea
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| Argo Tea | |
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| Type of Company | Private |
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| Founded | In June 2003 at 958 W Armitage Ave in Chicago, Illinois |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
| Key people | Arsen Avakian, CEO |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Products | Argo Tea Signature tea drinks Loose tea leaves Teaware |
| Employees | 100 |
| Website | argotea.com |
Argo Tea is a chain of tea shops that was founded in Chicago, Illinois in June of 2003. Well known in the Chicago area, it primarily sells about three dozen international varieties of loose-leaf tea (tea brewed from loose tea leaves, as opposed to bagged tea), and accepts wholesale orders. In addition to tea, Argo Tea sells a variety of hot and cold signature drinks, coffee, specialty foods, small entrées, and teaware.[1] The tea menu includes a variety of black, green, white, and natural herbal teas, served hot or iced. Argo has formed a special relationship with Whole Foods Market to distribute Argo products.[2]
[edit] Locations
The original cafe for Argo Tea, located at the corner of Armitage Avenue and Sheffield Avenue in Chicago, opened in June 2003. Its second and third full service stores opened at State Street and Randolph Street, and in Lewis Towers on Rush Street (respectively), in May of 2005.[3] Next, Argo added a kiosk in the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine (DCAM) lobby of the University of Chicago Hospital in April 2006. On August 6, 2006, the fifth store opened at Broadway Street and Briar Place, and on September 16, 2006 the first suburban store opened in Evanston at 1596 Sherman Avenue.[4] This may be the final grand opening for 2006, but expansion to between 12 and 17 locations by yearend 2007 is still planned.
Currently the Argo Brewing Room (a glass-enclosed room visible from the main floor customer seating area where the signature drinks for the entire company are brewed) is located at the State and Randolph location. The warehouse, packing room and all corporate offices are also located there.
[edit] Corporate information
Argo Tea is a privately held corporation with about 100 employees. Its tea shops are growing in popularity among students and young urban professionals, and its locations have been chosen to serve theis clientèle. All of its full service cafes are equipped with free wireless internet hot spots, a common practice among coffee shops, tea houses, and cafes hoping to entice students and young people.[5]
In 2006 Argo Tea purchased a large amount of equipment from a modern machinery exposition, improving productivity by 500%.[6]
[edit] Donations to cancer research
Argo Tea has donated a large amount of white teas to the University of Chicago Hospital, contributing to cancer research efforts there. (White teas contain a large amount of antioxidants, a vector currently being studied in the fight against certain kinds of cancer). This contribution prompted U of C to allow Argo to open the kiosk inside the hospital lobby.[7]
[edit] Sponsorship
Argo Tea has sponsored at least one women's event associated with InStyle Magazine.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Ortiz, Ruby. "Chicago Beat: Tea time", Chicago Flame, February 10, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-12-13.
- ^ a b Simone, Pattie. "You Can Do It!", Entrepreneur.com, July 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-13.
- ^ Dolinsky, Steve. "More tea steeping in Chicago", ABC 7 Chicago, January 6, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-13.
- ^ Alexander, Christina. "New Cafe Is Committee's Cup Of Tea", The Daily Northwestern, July 6, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-13.
- ^ "Hungry Hound: Tea", ABC 7 Chicago, November 25, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-12-13.
- ^ Argo Tea Improves Productivity 500% with Equipment Found at Pack Expo, Pack Expo press release.
- ^ Vinogradsky, Dasha. "Argo Tea arrives at UCH", Chicago Maroon, April 28, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-13.
[edit] Throughout
- University of Chicago Magazine article about Argo Tea
- 190 North (TV news show) about Argo Tea
- Article about procurement manager Daniel Lindwasser and Argo Tea
- Loyola University Chicago newspaper article about Argo Tea
