Popular pop-up to open tea, coffee shop in Merced. Here’s when and where
A popular drink stand is opening a brick-and-mortar location in Merced.
Joy Tea Bar — a locally owned mobile pop-up — is known for its handcrafted drinks, including matcha, specialty chai and creative fruit teas.
Now, it’s making the jump to a permanent storefront.
Joy Tea Bar owner Hushee Xiong announced the news on Instagram, saying the move comes after finding the right space.
“Pop-ups will have to end eventually, and the perfect location opened up,” Xiong wrote on Instagram.
Here’s what to know:
What is Joy Tea Bar in Merced?
Founded in 2024, Joy Tea Bar began as a mobile pop-up in Merced and quickly gained a loyal following for its rotating flavors and creative take on handcrafted drinks.
The business has since grown into a community favorite, with customers eagerly anticipating its new storefront.
“I’ll be first in line when you open,” Instagram user moniqueenriquez1 wrote in a comment on Xiong’s post.
“So thrilled to see small business owners thrive,” another Instagram user, melonpan_coffee, said.
“Prepare to be sick of me,” Instagram user jocelynnn_ said.
What’s on the menu at Joy Tea Bar?
The menu at Joy Tea Bar is always changing, but it mainly features iced drinks including Vietnamese coffee, matcha, chai, fruit teas and pearl drinks.
According to the business’ Facebook page, some popular drinks include the banana matcha — an iced matcha latte topped with banana cream cold foam and toffee bits — and the strawberry pearl, made with your choice of milk, strawberry syrup, fresh strawberries and tapioca pearls.
The shop also offers Vietnamese coffees topped with cold foam in flavors including cookie butter and chocolate hazelnut.
Drinks typically range from $5 to $9, depending on the size and flavor.
When and where is new coffee, tea shop opening in Merced?
According to Xiong, Joy Tea Bar will open in Fahren’s Park Plaza, 3376 North Highway 59 in Merced.
The shop will take over an empty space next to Mr. Pho, a Vietnamese restaurant.
“The building is already built out to a food business,” Xiong said.
While seating will be somewhat limited, Xiong said, there is plenty of parking for those stopping by.
Visitors can “come in, grab a drink with a friend and leave,” the business owner said.
Xiong said she is aiming to have the store open by June.
“I want it to be a safe space for us to come and feel calm,” Xiong said.
