With three locations in Coral Gables, Kendall, and Pinecrest, local boba tea chain Say Tea & Smile is preparing to expand even more. The brand has several new outposts in the works, including a Dadeland Mall kiosk location, a new brick-and-mortar at The Palms shopping center, and an upcoming food truck.
The Miami New Times published coverage last month about the boba tea chain’s taking over the old Dairy Queen building at 8545 S Dixie Highway in Pinecrest. That DQ had closed in February of 2023, but the building has remained a source of the “gut-punching nostalgia of visiting that acute, two-story, triangular, club-sandwich-like ‘restaurant,’ ordering soft serve ice cream, and eating it in the car that was parked on a 45-degree-slanted parking space with parents or friends.”
“I know this building was here before everything else,” Natalia, who owns Say Tea & Smile, says in the Miami New Times coverage. “This building is important to the city and locals who came here with their parents and grandparents. It’s huge to be here.”
The Dadeland location can be expected to open in the next few weeks, Natalia told What Now on Thursday, followed by the Palms location, whose opening date is still to be determined. The food truck will follow.
“We are growing fast, and we have so many ideas,” Natalia told What Now. “We have something for everybody. There’s tea with flavors, tea with milk or cream—we have almost 100 drinks, and everyone can choose one.”
Natalia cites the brand’s atmosphere and service as a key component of its success.
“Our customers really like our tea, and they also like the aesthetic. They like to stay, to hang out with friends, or even to work. We’re also very picky in choosing the people who attend to our customers. We want to have the best customer service, always.”
You can keep up with this rapidly growing local boba chain by following @sayteasmile on Instagram.
