Bobapop Tea Bar, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea chain with five locations in the Washington, D.C. area, has opened its latest outlet at 1114 Light St. in Federal Hill, taking over the former Chatime space. This new addition marks an exciting expansion for Bobapop, which is known for its diverse menu of boba tea drinks.
Sam Lin and Susan Hsu, the franchise owners for Bobapop’s East Coast locations, are overseeing the launch of the Federal Hill store. The duo also owns the Gaithersburg location, and their experience with the brand is helping guide the new establishment’s setup.
Specializing in bubble tea, Bobapop offers a range of eight unique tea bases and three types of Vietnamese coffee blends. Lin shared that the menu blends Asian and Western influences, making it accessible to a wide variety of tastes.
The menu includes a wide selection of flavored milk teas, fruit teas, caffeine-free drinks, slushies, energy boosters, and premium options such as Thai Milk Tea and Matcha Milk Tea. Customers can customize their drinks by choosing their desired sweetness level, ice percentage, and add-ins like boba, foams, puddings, fruit balls, aloe vera, red bean, or even Oreo cookie crumbs.
Tea base options include All Mountain, Bobapop Black, Darling, Flower Green, Four Season, Japanese Brown Rice, Jasmine Green, and Roasted Oolong. For fruit teas, Bobapop offers flavors like peach, guava, grapefruit, kumquat, mango, raspberry, melon, and strawberry. Among the most popular choices, Lin noted that the Brown Sugar Milk Tea has garnered significant attention in the area.
The coffee menu features Vietnamese coffee, cappuccinos, and lattes, providing a diverse selection for all tastes.
When searching for a location in the Baltimore area, Lin and Hsu considered several spots, including Cross Street Market and White Marsh, before deciding on their current site. The retail suite, which already had the layout of a tea shop, was ideal for their needs. The team was also familiar with the Federal Hill area through their catering services, making it a natural choice for their expansion.
Bobapop invested in a full renovation of the space, creating an inviting environment where customers can relax, work, or study. The interior includes an ordering station, bar seating, bench seating, and tables equipped with electrical outlets and charging stations.
Lin emphasized that their focus is on building a loyal customer base within the Federal Hill neighborhood, rather than relying on tourists or game-day crowds. “Federal Hill deserves a great bubble tea spot,” he said.
Currently, Bobapop’s Federal Hill location is open daily from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., with plans to extend hours during the summer.
With its unique blend of Taiwanese tea traditions and modern twists, Bobapop is poised to become a favorite destination for bubble tea lovers in the heart of Federal Hill.
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