Up Close and Personal
With Jade Lounge
"Our parents first emigrated and settled their roots in Tacoma back in the early 1990's. At a young age, we were taught to never expect handouts; that if you wanted something, you had to work for it. Nothing better than leading by example, right? Our whole lives, the only thing we ever saw our parents do was work....and work some more. They owned their own business for the last 20+ years - working 10+ hour days, seven days a week. It was a no-brainer that when the right time came, we would do everything in our power to pay them back. With the launch of our grand opening, we finally convinced our parents to retire this year. While we still don't know what the future holds, we believe that this new beginning will bring endless blessings. So thank you. Thank you for your endless support & believing in us. We wouldn't be here without you guys!" -Kelly & Christina Tran
HOW IT BEGAN
Born and raised in Tacoma, Kelly & Christina Tran are a pair of first generation American sisters who are changing the game on how people view bubble tea.
Though their personalities are the complete opposite, Kelly and Christina always had in common: a craving for boba. As Kelly ventured off to San Diego for college, she discovered what it was like to be encompassed by an affluent Asian culture in Southern California.
Christina has always had a knack for cooking and brewing up drinks in the kitchen. Together, they founded Jade Lounge from the ground up - testing and developing recipes in their own spare time while each working their own jobs in the tech industry.
When it was time to look for the physical location, Christina knew that bringing back the old Bertolino's coffee joint would be nostalgic for all of Tacoma. Having studied there herself, the sisters decided to revive the late night study spot, providing tasty drinks, ample seating, and a cozy atmosphere suitable for people of all ages.