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 FOOD & ALE HOUSE). 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 IN MIDTOWN’S CROWDED KOREATOWN, 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 THE TEA HOUSE (1983). ➤
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 AND CUSTOM APPAREL AS WELL AS FICTITIOUS STORIES ABOUT TEA HOUSES.
