Japanese Tea House To Fill Panera Space In Coolidge Corner

BROOKLINE, MA — Nearly every day passersby stop and peek into the space that Panera Bread abruptly left behind in Coolidge Corner. Now, readers tell Patch (thanks for the tip!) that a sign on the window indicates there is something new moving in. But it's not Tatte Bakery, as many had hoped.

It's a tea house.

A sign on the window says Gen Sou En Tea House will open in January.

"It will be a modern Japanese teahouse, blending traditional Japanese culture with modern Boston influences," reads the sign in the window.

Look for not just tea, but coffees, liquor and food for breakfast, lunch and a light dinner.

How do you pronounce it? Well the handy flyer gives passers by some help: "Gen Sou En (pronounced Gen with a hard G, so N as the letter) Tea house."

The shop plans to be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

As for Tatte Bakery? Just wishful thinking, said Tatte Bakery's Owner Tzurit Or in an email to Patch. In 2016 when Panera closed its Harvard Square location, Tatte Bakery moved into the space, which had many people wondering if Tatte would do something similar in this instance.
"That rumor got out of control when everyone decided Tatte was going in the old Panera space. We are not," said Or. "It’s been pretty intense with emails, calls and many wondering customers."

Panera also closed shop quickly on Commonwealth Avenue near Boston University. A sign in that window says Life Alive, the popular Inman Square vegetarian fare is slated to open there.

The Tea House owner did not immediately return request for comment. We will update when he does.

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