WENHAM — A new chapter has begun for the Wenham Tea House.
John Keohane, owner of Henry's Market in Beverly, has signed a lease with the Wenham Village Improvement Society and hopes to reopen the historic teahouse restaurant in April.
The agreement was announced after Wenham residents at a Special Town Meeting on Wednesday night overwhelmingly supported the creation of a home rule petition to seek an all-alcohol pouring license for the eatery.
The Monument Street establishment has been temporarily closed this winter after the previous tenant decided not to renew her lease with the improvement society.
"We're over the moon about this," society President Barbara Locke said. "This is just the best thing that has happened to the teahouse in a long time. ... This is just so promising. We're now saying, as a board, we can finally let the restaurant business do its thing on its own and we can focus on what we're supposed to be doing, which is supporting the community of Wenham."
Established in 1912, the Wenham Tea House is considered the oldest continuously operating teahouse in the United States. It sits on a 6-acre parcel owned by the improvement society.
Keohane said he plans to continue with what the teahouse is known for: hosting special events and serving breakfast and lunch — and, of course, plenty of tea.
In addition, Keohane has a few new ideas in mind, if the liquor-pouring license gets the final OK from the Legislature. Keohane said he envisions weekend brunches with mimosas and bloody marys, as well as reservation-only events such as wine dinners, port and cheese tastings with cigars, wine education and mixology classes, scotch and steak pairing nights, and more.
The teahouse will also offer the prepared foods that Henry's is known for, such as chicken pies, quiches and bakery items.
"(The teahouse) has the same customer base that we have here (at Henry's), with all those traditional values that Henry's hasn't forgot about," Keohane said.
"Everybody has felt such a tenderness toward the teahouse that so many people approached me, asking what's going to happen (once it closed)," he said. "I felt I would be remiss if I didn't go over there and ask about it. ... It's such a tradition for Wenham, just like Henry's (is for Beverly)."
Keohane, who lives in Danvers, has owned Henry's since 1995 and worked for the store's founder, Henry Swanson, for 21 years before purchasing the business.
The teahouse will be a family affair for the Keohanes. John Keohane's youngest son, Christopher, will be operations manager at the teahouse, and his wife, Janet, will be involved in selecting gift items to be sold at the restaurant.
Janet and Christopher own and manage the DogSpa boutique in North Beverly. Keohane's other son, Jason, will continue to concentrate on the operation at Henry's.
Locke said Keohane has already started in on the $75,000 worth of improvements and upgrades he has planned for the teahouse's kitchen. The dining room will also get new rugs, paint and other upgrades.
He hopes to open by April 1 and is planning a special Easter brunch.
This week, Keohane said he's already hired the teahouse manager and other employees, many of whom have been at the restaurant for years.
Keohane signed a three-year lease with two options to renew, Locke said. He will pay rent — Locke declined to disclose the figure — as well as his share of the utilities.
Keohane has also offered to supply the lunch that is traditionally served each spring prior to Wenham Town Meeting.
With the lease signed, Keohane and the WVIS are making plans to build a patio off the side of the building to accommodate outdoor seating.
"(Keohane) has got such great name recognition, such a great reputation for customer service," Locke said. "It's something the community is really going to benefit from. ... I know that it's going to be so successful."
Staff writer Bethany Bray can be reached at bbray@salemnews.com and on Twitter @SalemNewsBB.
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