Longtime Candler Park tea room Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party will relocate to Grant Park during the first week of April, winding down 20 years of service on McLendon Avenue. Owner Katrell Christie announced the relocation on Facebook.
Dr. Bombay’s will serve its last high teas in Candler Park on March 29 and 30, ahead of its relocation to the dining room at Grant Park biscuit and coffee cafe Howdy ATL across from Zoo Atlanta on Cherokee Avenue.
“Over the past few years, I have also dedicated myself to a victim advocacy journalism project, using my voice to shed light on injustices and my passion for human rights issues,” Christie said in the Facebook post. “This work led me to release a podcast, which has now gained a global platform and I’ve been offered an opportunity I simply cannot refuse.”
Rather than close Dr. Bombay’s, Christie struck a deal with Howdy ATL owner Boyd Baker to move its popular high tea service to the Grant Park cafe’s dining room. However, the scaled-down operation means Dr. Bombay’s will only serve high tea in Grant Park on weekend afternoons. High tea includes a pot of tea and a three-tiered tray with pastries and finger sandwiches for around $35 per person.
While the new location will feature some of the books and knick-knacks currently part of the decor at the Candler Park tea room, Christie plans to hold a rummage sale for other Dr. Bombay’s items on March 30 and 31
Dr. Bombay’s philanthropic arm, “The Learning Tea,” offers monthly programs benefitting scholarships for women in India to pursue their education. Since its inception in 2009, individual donations and proceeds from Learning Tea events have helped put 14 women through college and provided other training and education opportunities for women in communities throughout India.
The Learning Tea events should continue in Grant Park.
Related story: The original Flying Biscuit on McLendon relocating
Dr. Bombay’s marks the second restaurant departure over the last year along this stretch of McLendon. Neighboring Flying Biscuit relocated last summer to the former Lazy Betty space on DeKalb Avenue on the edge of the neighborhood. Franchise owner Joseph Hsaio told Rough Draft at the time that he wasn’t renewing the lease on the McLendon space.
Founded by Delia Champion and Michelle Speert, Flying Biscuit opened at the corner of McLendon and Clifton in 1993. The block is also home to Gigi’s Italian Kitchen, Fellini’s, La Fonda, and Candler Park Market and Deli.
Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party relocates to 753 Cherokee Ave. in Grant Park during the first week of April.
