Happy Lemon, a new bubble tea store on campus, will have its grand opening at 612 E. Daniel St. on Friday and Saturday. The location hosted a soft opening last Friday.
To celebrate the opening, all drinks will be buy one get one free with a limit of four drinks.
Happy Lemon originated from Taiwan and has now gone international. According to the company’s website, there are over 350 locations in 21 countries.
The chain offers a wide variety of milk teas and lemon teas with many topping options to choose from. It also has made-to-order bubble waffles.
While the employees have been training to make the drinks for the past month, Trinh Le, third-party service provider and area developer for Happy Lemon, said she likes to do a soft opening for employees to have hands-on training with the customers.
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She said her employees have called working the soft opening a “night and day” difference compared to training without customers.
The Champaign location has averaged selling 300 to 400 cups a day. Out of the four Happy Lemon locations in Illinois, this has by far been the busiest soft opening, and the grand opening is expected to be even busier, Le said.
All Illinois locations are based near college campuses, and there are plans to open franchises near other campuses in Illinois, Wisconsin and the rest of the Big Ten universities.
Happy Lemon already had its first fundraiser on Nov. 4 with the Taiwanese American Students Club. With Happy Lemon’s fundraisers, 20% of all sales proceeds from 5-9 p.m. go to the club with no need to show a flier.
Le said the Evanston location often has fundraisers weekly, and the same could be possible in Champaign.
“We have another one with a frat this Thursday, and we’re doing one with a sorority soon,” Le said.
