For the first time in nearly two decades, a business will occupy a high-profile spot on the 2500 block of Downer Avenue. Well, a portion of that spot, anyway.

SereniTea Lounge, a boba/bubble tea and cocktail bar, is expected to open this week at 2569 N. Downer Ave. Various sources tell us SereniTea will celebrate its grand opening on Friday, January 31, from 5 p.m. to midnight.

According to an Instagram post, the Downer SereniTea will deliver “great drinks, good vibes, and unforgettable nights, with a new take on the cocktails and boba you’ve learned to love.” Owner Manpreet Singh operates two other SereniTea locations, one at Bayshore at the other at 1414 W. Wells St.


The opening comes nearly two years after Singh first applied for a license for the location. But that’s nothing: Before SereniTea began to move in, the Downer space had been vacant for nearly 18 years. It was previously the home of a Chancery restaurant, which closed in March 2007.

And yet some of that space will remain vacant. In 2023, building owner Bridge33 Capital LLC divided the single space into two spaces: one roughly 1,700 square feet and the other roughly 2,000 square feet. SereniTea is set up in the smaller space.


In other Downer Avenue news, Pizza Man recently reopened 2597 N. Downer Ave. It’s good! In other boba/bubble tea joint news, one opened last summer at the old Hotel Foster/Globe East space. It’s 132 steps away from another boba/bubble tea joint!

Want more Milwaukee Record? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and/or support us on Patreon.


RELATED ARTICLES

Shout-out to the old Chancery on Downer, which has been empty for 17 years

7-story apartment building planned for long-vacant East Side lot; neighborhood meeting features good pizza

Bubble tea place coming to old Hotel Foster/Globe space, 132 steps from other bubble tea place

About The Author

Avatar photo
Co-Founder and Editor

Matt Wild weighs between 140 and 145 pounds. He lives on Milwaukee's east side.