According to a recent article published in the Dayton Daily News, a new tea and wine lounge is making plans to open in Dayton’s Wright Dunbar District next year. Located at 1171 W Third St, Saoko Leaf & Vine will serve a variety of teas, from bubble tea to tea blends that will support health and wellness, to wine and light bites.
The business is a partnership between Dayton natives Myla Hall and her second cousin T. Anthony Monie. Hall has a background in home healthcare and helping individuals to launch their own business, while Monie brings experience in network marketing and is the owner of T. Anthony Consulting & Marketing. Hall got the idea for the wine and tea lounge during the pandemic, at which time she wrote a business plan and has slowly built towards bringing the idea to reality since then.
“The world slowed down during the pandemic, and it gave people the opportunity to start to focus on their health,” Hall said of the inspiration for the concept.
In terms of food and beverages offered at Saoko Leaf & Vine, guests can expect a self-serve wine station that will offer one, three or five ounce pours, and a selection of 12 wines on tap. Bubble tea and health teas like a detox tea and hypertension tea will also be available to be brewed and enjoyed on site, or for purchase to brew at home. And there are plans to offer charcuterie boards and pastries for light bites.
The 1,500-square-foot interior will feature a blend of light and dark wood tones, with the brand’s colors of black, green and white throughout the space. “We’ll have photos of Dayton cultural icons like Paul Laurence Dunbar, the Wright brothers and Martin Sheen on the walls,” Monie said of the interior.
Monie went on to explain that guests can expect to find a comfortable ambiance where they can work during the day and in the evenings the vibe will be slightly different with dim lighting that will evoke more of a lounge feel.
The business is currently slated to open within the first few months of 2025, but follow Saoko Leaf & Vine on Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date on all the opening details.
