Six years after its first pots of tea were poured and its doors swung open, Pekoe & Bean is still serving up warmth, whimsy and conversation along Oak Park Avenue.
The traditional tea room and coffee bar at 17028 Oak Park Ave. marked its sixth anniversary this month, celebrating a milestone built on seasonal fare, specialty beverages and a belief that a good cup of tea or coffee is best enjoyed with a little human connection.
The shop officially opened Jan. 10, 2020, after construction began the year prior. Owner Audrey Maher, an Orland Park resident, said the timing tested the business early on but also reinforced the purpose behind it.
“My passion for hot beverages, tea room fare, and the ability to bring something new and different to the community,” Maher said, explaining what inspired her to open Pekoe & Bean.
From the start, Pekoe & Bean set out to be more than a quick stop for caffeine. As the only traditional tea room in the area, the establishment emphasizes a slower, more intentional experience centered on conversation, hospitality and seasonal menus.
“As a tea room primarily, I recommend our full afternoon tea,” Maher said. “A lovely large seasonal assortment of savory to sweet finger foods served on a three-tier stand with a complimentary beverage.”
The menu changes throughout the year, giving guests a reason to return often. “In fact, all of our food is seasonal, so it does give guests the opportunity to try us frequently,” she said.
In addition to tea service, Pekoe & Bean features a walk-up coffee bar that has developed a loyal following. Maher said customers gravitate toward a variety of specialty lattes, with one seasonal standout.
“Though our coffee bar only patrons would recommend a variety of different lattes, the winner overall would have to be the bananas foster latte this season,” she said.
Maher said the heart of the business lies in the people who fill it each day, both behind the counter and on the other side of it.
“Besides the menu development and getting to create new recipes all the time, I love the employees and the regular customers,” she said. “I think it’s important that people have a place to come get their coffee and chat about their day for a moment with their Pekoe server or barista or kitchen staff, whoever is near the counter.”
She added that simple interactions are increasingly rare. “Something sorely missing in the world, a little human interaction and kindness,” Maher said.
Staffing, she said, has become one of the most rewarding aspects of ownership.
“They are all friends, they all have a great time at work and get along so well, and they are all just wonderful people,” she said. “Creating a job memory like this that they can carry with them is priceless.”
Pekoe & Bean has also become a destination for celebrations, offering a private rental space for parties as well as full space rentals. The shop sells loose-leaf teas and serves locally sourced coffee, further setting it apart.
“There are many things that make Pekoe unique,” Maher said. “We are the only traditional tea room in the area, we sell fantastic loose-leaf tea, we have the best customers and staff, our coffee is local and delicious, we have a private rental space for parties available, and our food and drinks change seasonally.”
As Pekoe & Bean celebrates six years, Maher said the goal remains the same as it was on opening day: to offer a welcoming place where people feel encouraged to slow down, connect and savor the moment.
