MEEKER | If you have driven through or walked in downtown Meeker, Colorado, you may have noticed that TX Tea has a new location. That’s right — after opening this summer in space shared with Mountain Charisma on Main, TX Tea recently moved to the space that was once home to Meeker Drugs, the Meeker Sweet Shop, and most recently, GG’s Place.
TX Tea owner Skye Forsythe sat down with the HT to talk about how he got his business started. He began by discussing what brought his wife Rhiannon, daughter Keira, and himself to the town of Meeker.
“We came here about five years ago, and we were just wanting a slower pace. We loved the community. My brother and sister live here, and it was just a good time to make a change,” Forsythe said.
Before moving to Meeker, Forsythe worked in a different industry in Texas, doing low-voltage networking. He explained what made him want to switch to owning a restaurant.
“I’ve always wanted to own a restaurant and have a culinary degree. That’s what I did during COVID to take some time and get that completed,” Forsythe said.
“And then this whole thing came about because we wanted to do something a little bit different for the community. It would be our own shop, and we could do whatever we wanted. We decided to do teas,” Forsythe continued. “I love tea, so we went into boba teas and stuff like that. We’ve gotten awesome responses from the community, and it just keeps evolving.”
Forsythe expressed his excitement about his business and his new location, saying he is happy that the building will continue to serve the community. He also reflected on the atmosphere of his previous location and how the new space might bring a different vibe.
“I think the vibe at our other shop with Mountain Charisma was chill and casual, and now, moving over here, I think it’ll be awesome to bring the community back into this space and let them enjoy it again,” Forsythe said.
Forsythe also talked about the changes TX Tea will bring to the building in terms of food offerings.
“We want to bring back sandwiches and ice cream, which we’ll do, but it’s baby steps for us because the new location is about four or five times bigger than what we’re used to,” Forsythe said.
As with any business, challenges arise. Forsythe shared some of those challenges and how he addresses them.
“The first challenge is coming up with something you hope the community likes and responds to. We do what we can to provide the best for the people,” Forsythe said. “Our biggest hurdle right now is trying to keep costs low while still offering enough variety that people want to come back and try new drinks, sandwiches, or salads.”
He also expressed gratitude for the support they’ve received.
“The people of Meeker and the visitors have been absolutely supportive. We love seeing our regulars every day, and we get excited when new people come in. That gives us hope for the future that we’re doing something the community wants,” Forsythe said.
The Forsythe family chose the name “TX Tea” as a nod to their Texas roots.
“One day we were listening to The Beverly Hillbillies, and they call oil ‘Texas tea.’ I thought it was funny since we’re from Texas and serving tea, so the name kind of fit,” Forsythe said.
TX Tea plans to expand its menu by adding more coffee drinks, sandwiches, breakfast items, and soups during the winter. They also plan to change the menu periodically to offer more options to the community.
“One of our struggles now is that we’ve definitely outgrown ourselves, so we’re looking to hire a few awesome team members to help us keep up with demand,” Forsythe said.
Currently, TX Tea operates from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, but Forsythe hopes to expand those hours soon.
“Our goal is to open at 6:30 in the morning and stay open a bit later, maybe until 4:30 in the evening. We’d love to be open on Saturdays or Sundays, especially in the summer,” Forsythe said. “We want to have the ice cream shop open for everyone during the summer and extend our hours then, too.”
Forsythe is excited to continue serving the Meeker community and its visitors. He also shared some advice for the town’s youth.
“My advice would be to keep being respectful and awesome like you guys have been. Kudos to the parents for teaching such great values to the kids,” Forsythe said. “That’s what makes Meeker and Rio Blanco County amazing—the values instilled in the kids here, especially the ones who come into our shop. They’re super patient, super respectful, and we really enjoy that experience.”
By JARED HENDERSON
