Argo Tea

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Argo Tea
Type Private
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 150
Website argotea.com

Argo Tea is a chain of tea cafés that was founded in Chicago, Illinois in June of 2003 by Arsen Avakian, Daniel Lindwasser, and Simon Simonian.[1] Well known in the Chicago area, Argo Tea primarily sells a variety of hot and cold tea-based signature drinks. In addition, Argo Tea sells about three dozen international varieties of loose-leaf tea (tea brewed from loose tea leaves, as opposed to bagged tea), coffee, specialty foods, small entrées, and teaware.[2] 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.[3]

Contents

[edit] Locations

Employees passing out drink samples.
Employees passing out drink samples.

The original café 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.[4] 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.[5] A Marquette Building location opened April 9, 2007. The eighth location opened at the corner of Clark and St James Street in September 2007. On October 20, 2007, the ninth location opened in the lobby of the new Northwestern Memorial Hospital Prentice Women's Hospital.


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 150 employees. Its cafés are growing in popularity among students and young urban professionals, and its locations have been chosen to serve this clientèle. All of its full service cafés are equipped with wireless internet hot spots, a common practice among coffee shops, tea houses, and cafés hoping to entice students and young people.[6]

In 2006 Argo Tea purchased a large amount of equipment from a modern machinery exposition, improving productivity by 500%.[7]

[edit] Donations to cancer research

Argo Tea has donated a large amount of white teas to the University of Chicago Hospitals, 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.[8]

[edit] Sponsorship

Argo Tea has sponsored at least one women's event associated with InStyle Magazine.[3]

Brewing Room at State & Randolph July 2, 2006

Newest location in Evanston, IL


[edit] References

  1. ^ "Liquid Gold", Chicago Magazine, May 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-23. 
  2. ^ Ortiz, Ruby. "Chicago Beat: Tea time", Chicago Flame, February 10, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-12-13. 
  3. ^ a b Simone, Pattie. "You Can Do It!", Entrepreneur.com, July 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-13. 
  4. ^ Dolinsky, Steve. "More tea steeping in Chicago", ABC 7 Chicago, January 6, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-13. 
  5. ^ Alexander, Christina. "New Cafe Is Committee's Cup Of Tea", The Daily Northwestern, July 6, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-13. 
  6. ^ "Hungry Hound: Tea", ABC 7 Chicago, November 25, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-12-13. 
  7. ^ Argo Tea Improves Productivity 500% with Equipment Found at Pack Expo, Pack Expo press release.
  8. ^ Vinogradsky, Dasha. "Argo Tea arrives at UCH", Chicago Maroon, April 28, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-13. 

[edit] Throughout

  1. University of Chicago Magazine article about Argo Tea
  2. 190 North (TV news show) about Argo Tea
  3. Article about procurement manager Daniel Lindwasser and Argo Tea
  4. Loyola University Chicago newspaper article about Argo Tea

[edit] External links