Chado Origins
Chado first opened its doors on West 3rd Street in 1990 as a cozy tearoom with just a handful of tables—yet its walls held more than 300 canisters of teas sourced from around the world. In 1993, Reena Shah and her husband, Devan, acquired Chado and began shaping the way Los Angeles experiences tea. In 1999, Reena welcomed Tekeste (“Tek”) Mehreteab to the team as a cook. His integrity, dedication, and passion for tea quickly set him apart, leading him to become a manager and, by 2002, a partner in the opening of Chado’s second location in Pasadena.
Today, Chado’s four Los Angeles locations stand as cornerstones of America’s modern tea renaissance. Guided by Reena and Tek’s passion and commitment, Chado has introduced thousands to the art and culture of tea—helping to shape and inspire a growing tea movement across the United States.