Mad Hatties a stirring success

Tea is not just for little girls and old ladies anymore.

At Mad Hatties Boutique and Teas in Spokane Valley, more and more women are discovering the joy of finding different kinds of tea and having fun in the process, said Deborah Simpson, co-owner of the shop.

“Tea is very popular right now,” Simpson said. “I like the idea that it’s not a dying art or a dying trend.”

Mad Hatties features hundreds of varieties of tea and vintage tea cups, as well as candles, scarves, handcrafted beaded mirrors and vintage jewelry. People are attracted to the small shop because it offers a personalized shopping experience.

“Customers come in looking for things that are one of a kind, vintage or handcrafted,” Simpson said. “We have that neighborhood, ma and pa kind of store.”

Simpson and her mother opened the store last December and have seen success since then. Their most recent project is the construction of a tea room, which should be done within a few months. About 400 people have asked to be called when the tea room opens, Simpson said. The interest is very high.

“We’ll make it charming and sweet, but not too hoity-toity,” Simpson said. “It will be like an afternoon tea. More than anything it will be fun.”

The teas take up an entire wall of the store. There are many varieties available, ranging from classic Earl Grey to the interesting Rooibas teas, which have no caffeine but 50 percent more anti-oxidants than green teas. All teas have a snifter, in which customers can sample the aroma of the tea.

The business has been a whirlwind of work for Simpson. In December, the store was constantly busy before the Christmas holiday. Since then, a steady stream of customers keeps the shop going.

Before she opened the shop, Simpson spent 20 years as a graphic designer. The new business is a change of pace.

“It’s kind of nice not to sit in front of a computer all day like I used to,” she said. “Somebody said working for yourself is great; you can choose whatever 18 hour days you want to work.”

For now the shop plans to complete the tea room, then work on a kitchen. In a few years, Simpson said she suspects the shop will outgrow its current location.

“Until then, we’re starting small,” she said.