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Hey Tea has opened its first D.C.-area location at Tysons Corner Center, attracting a line of customers during a week-long grand opening celebration.

The China-based tea chain began serving customers Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Technical problems delayed service the following Monday, but patrons still formed a line stretching around the corner from the shop.

Located beside McDonald’s on the mall’s first floor, Hey Tea occupies the former Istanbul Kitchen space. The Turkish restaurant moved into the mall’s former 7-Eleven location last year.

Grand opening deals helped fuel the early demand. Hey Tea offered buy-one-get-one-free pricing on select drinks during its first three days. A buy-one-get-one-50%-off promotion was scheduled to continue through Thursday, Feb. 20.

Through that Thursday, customers could also receive a limited-edition branded refrigerator magnet by sharing their visit on social media or posting a Google review with a photo. Beginning Friday, Feb. 21, customers purchasing two drinks were set to receive a limited-edition tote bag while supplies lasted.

Founded in Jiangbianli in China’s Guangdong province in 2012, Hey Tea says it pioneered “cheese” tea using fresh tea leaves and premium milk instead of instant powder and artificial additives. The cold drink is topped with cream cheese-flavored foam.

The company has grown to more than 3,000 stores worldwide. It entered the United States in 2023 with a Broadway location in New York City, and the Tysons shop marks its first expansion into the Washington region.

Along with its signature cheese tea, the menu includes fruit teas, milk teas and seasonal flavors. The Tysons location is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Hey Tea sits a few doors from Gagawa, a Turkish chicken restaurant that celebrated its grand opening in January.

Another change is coming elsewhere in the mall: Signs at Barnes & Noble’s new first-floor storefront say the bookstore is expected to return in summer 2025.