Tea time in Murfreesboro

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 17, 2006

MURFREESBORO – The Murfree House Tea Room is open for business.

“We opened on December 15 and have enjoyed a busy first month of business,” said Tea Room Owner/Operator Christina Miles.

The Tea Room, located at 320 Williams Street in the historic Murfree House, is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 am n 3pm.

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The Tea Room offers a wide variety of soups, salads, sandwiches and of course, tea.

“Everything is made fresh,” Miles said. “We offer over 30 different types of teas, including some very unique varieties, as well as coffee, lattes, espresso and cappuccino.”

The Tea Room offers healthy choices on their lunch menu including Chicken Oriental Salad and a Maple Turkey Sandwich.

Miles, who operated a tea room in Georgia before having to move, plans to begin serving a set dinner on Saturday night in the near future.

“We will be hosting a High Tea tasting this Friday (January 20) at 7 pm that will include tea, wine, finger sandwiches and desserts,” Miles said.

Miles and restaurant manager Cher Knupp both have husbands in the Navy and lived in the Norfolk/Williamsburg area before finding there way to Murfreesboro.

“We loved the quiet, comfortable atmosphere of Murfreesboro,” Miles and Knupp emphasized. “The people here are wonderful.”

Miles traces her family back to the royal Stewart family of Scotland and her 6th great grandfather was Richard Stockton, one of the 56 signer’s of the Declaration of Independence.

Miles has used her love of history and fascinating family tree to help decorate the Tea House. Each room has its own theme and corresponds with a different aspect of history. Historic pictures, an antique piano and a Scottish family tree decorate the historic house, giving the Tea Room a warm and unique atmosphere

Miles and Knupp are also very active in the Murfreesboro Historical Association and love Murfreesboro’s historic buildings.

“Murfreesboro is a historic goldmine,” Miles said.

Miles has advertised, but business from “word of mouth” has been great Miles said.

“The Christmas Candlelight Tour was good exposure,” Miles added.

“We will be having a Valentines’ dinner,” Miles continued. “It will be a four course meal, but will be by reservation only.

“We are planning to start having one special event each month and a formal afternoon tea during the summer,” Miles said.

One Tea Room patron summed it up the best by saying, “Every time I go here I feel like I am going to a friend’s house.”