"Miss Melanie's Tea Room & Gourmet Tea Emporium" opened it's doors on Thursday, November 17, 2005. It is owned and operated by Keith and Melanie O'Hara-Salyers. 

 "It's a dream fulfilled for me," says Melanie. "I always had a pot of tea with my mother after school and one of our favorite things to do when we traveled was to visit tea rooms.It was only after my summer living abroad in London that I experienced authentic Afternoon Tea and my passion for tea was ignited!" 

 "Many of the recipes I use for our Afternoon Tea Trays and Lunch Menus come from my grandmothers, Essie and Ellen. Grandma Ellen was a wonderful baker and her cheese cake was legendary as well as her cookies! My grandmother, Essie, actually owned her own restaurant and allowed me to take guest's orders at the early age of three! Of course, one of her servers was standing by to make sure it was turned into the kitchen correctly, but I can vividly remember how exciting it was to visit her at her business. 

 Melanie and Keith both have a passion for Victorian Homes and antiques, a specialty that Keith has turned into a thriving business. He not only refurbishes antiques and furniture, he owns "Old World Antiques & Fine Furnishings" in  Johnson City, Tennessee. The couple has incorporated Keith's antiques into the tea room,  furnishing the entire downstairs with period pieces that enhance the 106 year old Victorian tea room. For more information on Keith's business please visit www.OldWorldFurnitureRestorations.com

 "Keith was my inspiration for opening the business. He has encouraged me every step of the way. He encouraged me to attend tea school and take it to the next level. It has been wonderful how our two businesses complement each other."

 All of the antique furnishings in the tea room are for sale. He has also added an architectural salvage store at is Minga Drive location. "Keith is a perfectionist when it comes to his furniture restoration work as well as refinishing antiques, wood trim, mantles or creating reproduction cabinets and mantels," Melanie said. "We actually met by chance when he refinished my antiques for me. The rest is history!"

Melanie is a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas as well as a graduate of East Tennessee University in Johnson City, TN. She has earned certification in tea education and continues taking professional level classes. 
She continues her quest of sharing her tea education and background with her Tea Academy Seminars- Consulting & Training for Tea Professionals. For more information on upcoming classes, please vist www.TheTeaAcademy.com

Melanie is also the author of The Traveling Tea Ladies Mystery Series published by Little Creek Books. Her first book will be released January 2011. Fans of The Traveling Tea Ladies can visit her webpage at www.TheTravelingTeaLadies.com or form your own "Traveling Tea Ladies Society at www.TheTravelingTeaLadiesSociety.com 

 The tea room located at 123 East Unaka Avenue in downtown historic Johnson City  has eight antique fireplaces and gorgeous original oak woodwork and winding staircase in the entry. "We are so blessed to be able to be part of this home's history. I feel as though we are caretakers of a vital part of this neighborhood," Melanie said.