After returning from the Marine Corps in 2011, Loc Le didn’t know what he wanted to do for work. The fuel supply veteran tried his hand at machine work but felt no particular connection to the craft. Though he has experience in the mechanical field, there was always one thing that especially interested him — food.
“I just love food, and I like to make food and drinks,” Le said. “I wanted to do something for myself and something for the community. I wanted to have a really good place where kids and people could hang out in a family environment.”
That dream became a reality in April when Le opened Bee Happy Boba Tea off West Thunderbird Road in Peoria — a Taiwanese concept tea shop that serves fresh tea and cuisine in a comfortable, fun and “friendly” environment.
The shop offers a variety of menu options. Starting with the namesake, Le has concocted a lineup of fresh tea, made with either a Jasmine or green tea base mixed with milk, lemonade or “whatever you may like.”
Along with an assortment of beverages, Bee Happy Boba also serves small food options like fried rice, finger food or popcorn chicken with a homemade sauce.
Le admitted that Bee Happy Boba isn’t “too much different from other boba shops” in terms of the menu, but he is devoted to creating a personable atmosphere in his shop.
“When I go to a shop, I don’t want it to be a franchise, I don’t want it to be corporate; I want it to feel like a family,” he said. “That’s what I want. I want to feel like I’m at home. That’s what I want my kids to feel like if they go or what I want to feel like if I go somewhere, that the owner personally knows me, so it feels like home to me.”
He contributes to this atmosphere by offering certain discounts to a variety of guests who come in. Whether for veterans, teachers or the local community, Le is all for the idea of giving back.
“I want to do whatever I can to help,” he said. “I’m still a fresh, green business, but I am able to give them a discount to help out. … I’m glad to. I want to try to help. It is pretty cool.”
With roots in the restaurant industry, Le has made his own stamp on his family legacy.
He dreams to one day evolve Bee Happy Boba into a larger-scale restaurant, but for the time being, he will continue to offer quality service in a comfortable and family-friendly environment.
“It’s hard work having your own business,” Le said. “Building your own business is hard, and then to maintain it and have it going up to where my goal is is a lot of work and a lot of stress. But I think it will be worth it in the end when I actually make profits and actually see families hanging out and have a great time.”
Bee Happy Boba Tea
7558 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria
623-979-3851
