Peace of mind is important to Auburn businesses 3 Leaf Tea and Zen Den Studio. One thing that provides peace of mind downtown is free parking. That perk, along with more space for their growing wellness businesses, is why 3 Leaf owner Luciana Torous and Zen Den owner Erin Schillace have relocated from 16 Genesee St.
to Seminary Commons plaza at 25 Seminary St. a few blocks away. A grand opening will be held Saturday, May 11, and attendees sipping on matcha or holding a downward dog won't have to worry about refeeding any meters.
Torous and Schillace decided to move after the lease at their former location was up, they told The Citizen, just as they partnered when Torous was looking for a new space in 2019. Her decade-old shop specializes in matcha, a powdered green tea introduced to her by a friend who brought her some from Japan. Torous was drawn to the way it helped with her anxiety and OCD, she said.
"When I drank it, it really calmed my mind down," she said. "I wanted to share that feeling with other people." Online sales have become a significant part of 3 Leaf's business, Torous said, and her new location gives her more space to store her naturally infused flavors like pear and birthday cake.
Auburn customers, meanwhile, will have a few tables of seating in the new café. Torous is also introducing an online ordering system for their convenience, and considering new menu options like protein shakes. Schillace, who opened Zen Den in 2018 and invited Torous to take over .
