T H E F L U S H I N G T E A R O O M
ESTABLISHED IN 1984, THE FLUSHING TEA ROOM WAS ORIGINALLY OPENED UNDER THE NAME 프러싱 포장마차 (LOOSELY TRANSLATED TO FLUSHING STREET-FOOD CAFE). THOUGH THE RESTAURANT INDEED SERVED ORIENTAL TEA, IT PROVIDED SNACKS, BEER AND MAKGEOLLI TO ITS PATRONS AS WELL, ACTING AS A SOCIAL MEETING PLACE FOR NEWLY-ARRIVED KOREANS AND THEIR CHILDREN…
AS MORE AND MORE KOREANS MOVED TO NEW YORK THROUGHOUT THE 80S AND 90S, FAMILIES BEGAN TO SETTLE LESS AND LESS IN THE OVERCROWDED K-TOWN OPTING FOR FLUSHING AND BAYSIDE INSTEAD. UNABLE TO AFFORD RESERVATIONS AT THE LAVISH PARLORS OF MANHATTAN’S UPPER-CRUST (AND UNWELCOME), “TEA ROOM” FOUNDER 재섀리 BUILT A PLACE JUST FOR THEM.
FOUNDER 재섀리 SPEAKING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, ENJOYING THE PLANNING AND EVENTUAL GRAND OPENING OF 프러싱 포장마차 IN 1984. ➤
재섀리 IS A FUNCTIONAL ARTIST ORIGINALLY FROM NEW YORK, THOUGH HE LIVED ABROAD IN KOREA FOR OVER A DECADE. HIS WORK INCLUDES BOOK DESIGN AND AUTHORSHIP, GAME DESIGN, VINYL STICKERS, PAPER GOODS, CUSTOMIZED APPAREL, MUSIC AND FICTITIOUS LORE ABOUT TEA HOUSES.
