This is not the typical narrative of a small business owner.

When Covid-19 caused the state to shut down, the gate of the Richland Public Library was closed, and its cafe, Novel Coffee Teas, was also closed.

Although many companies use this peaceful time to reimagine their brands, spaces, and business models, few people face the unusual ultimatum to permanently close or open new locations to make ends meet.

After being unable to operate for more than seven months, Oscar and Lonny Suarez chose the latter.

Oscar said: "We decided to waver and take this risk."

Now, Oscar has just celebrated the first anniversary of the novel at the new location of the BB suite at 710 George Washington Road. He said that if there were no pandemics, this coffee and tea shop would not be what it is now.

"The library should be our incubation stage, but we were driven out of the nest and had to fly," he said.

The couple took over the library's 100-square-foot Bookmark Café from the previous operator in May 2019 and changed its name to Novel Coffee Teas.

Oscar said: "When we started to become very popular, the pandemic shut us down."

The couple came up with the idea of ​​buying a towable coffee trailer, but found that the upfront cost was too high.

Previously, the Suarez couple ran a pop-up store called Camerazzi in Suite BB at 710 George Washington Road, which is located across from The Parkway and near Howard Amon Park.

When Lonnie saw that their old 500-square-foot suite was available again, she told Oscar that they should go.

On October 31, 2020, they opened Novel's new door with a diversified and expanded beverage series, including customizable coffee, Boba milk tea and fruit tea, cocoa, Italian soda, etc. The names of all products include Blank Page , Script Writer, Storyteller and Last Page.

Lonnie said Novel’s signature coffee drink is Typewriter, featuring macadamia nut flavors and caramel drizzle. This is their number one seller.

Novel's most popular boba drink is called The Reserve, featuring taro, vanilla and bubble tea.

The novel is popular in the library for its boba tea.

For those who are new to boba-also known as bubble milk tea, bubble milk tea or tapioca tea-it is a Taiwanese milk tea with tapioca pearls made from tapioca root starch added to thicken the drink and create A pleasant "soft" texture, Oscar said.

Boba has recently appeared more and more on menus in the region. Oscar said this is a constantly changing industry.

"It is expected that in the next five years, it will grow from a $4 billion industry to a $9 billion industry (globally)," he said.

Novel Coffee Teas sells a variety of specialty drinks named after the author, including fruit smoothies, coffee, lemonade, boba tea and these unique fusion drinks. In the near future, it will also provide in-house made pastries and light meals. (Provided by Oscar Suarez)

The novel provides boba with a novel twist: a mixture of coffee and bubble tea.

"I've traveled all over the West Coast, and we were the first to actually sell iced coffee with boba," Oscar said. He suggested that those interested in trying this unique drink should order an iced typewriter and have the barista add tapioca pearls at the bottom.

Suarezes also raised their coffee level when opening a new store, switching to Café Umbria, a third-generation Italian roaster based in Seattle.

"We want something that will stand out and show that we are wavering," Oscar said.

"We are not a coffee snob...but it's all about timing," he said, explaining that those who are drawn to the Three Cities from more metropolitan areas are looking for the advanced experience they leave behind.

With this in mind, Lonnie created a relaxed atmosphere for Novel's cafe lounge, which they completed in May 2020 in the adjoining suite, which was previously the location of Tri-Cities Phone Repair.

The expansion brought their total area to 1,100 square feet.

"I hope it feels like home, but it has a very central New York feel," Lonnie said.

"One of my dreams is to own a coffee shop and start some big business...I like to go to coffee shops and I used to take notes and put forward ideas," she said.

Upgrading recycled materials, carefully selected antique furniture from local shops, and record players that call customers to bring their own vinyl records are designed to create a comfortable living room feel.

"The buildings there and how they decorate everything... It flows very well, it's a super comfortable atmosphere," said local real estate agent and regular visitor Leticia Torres.

"You just want to hang out, have a drink, and chat with friends. I had business meetings there, I met friends there, and I took my kids there; it was so versatile, so beautiful and unique," she said. And added that the staff will try to remember the customer's name and favorite drink.

The popular book wall of the novel features rows of open books, with the pages fanned out, encouraging a lot of selfies.

"We have people here just to take pictures in front of the book. Our goal is to make it a must for tourists," Oscar said.

It took two months to complete the expansion.

"It's all sweat assets," Oscar said. "Everything is self-funded, minus small household loans.... Everything from the counter is invested there."

He emphasized, “I didn’t do it myself—community members helped me.”

Foodie owner Joanna Wilson donated an ice machine and several coffee machines, and Kagen Cox of Kagen Coffee & Crepes donated a three basin sink.

Travis Jordan of Rockabilly Roasting Co. helped create an espresso machine.

Electrical and plumbing services were also donated, and eight Novel employees worked with the Suarez family to help with the transformation.

"It's okay to ask for help. I have always been a person who wants to be self-reliant and do-it-yourself, but sometimes you can't," Oscar said.

He said that the novel barely touched the surface of its potential.

Over the next few months, he and Lonnie will launch a food menu that includes light meals such as homemade pastries, sandwiches and acai bowls.

Although the couple plan to reopen the location of the Richland Library soon, they are planning their next location and are patiently waiting for suitable properties to be listed in Pasco, preferably those with a speedy approach.

At the same time, the couple continued to develop their vision for the novel, noting that they eventually hope to sell a selection of books in the lounge, which may include local and regional writers.

She and Oscar also hope to use novels as a tool for children and young people to enter the fields of books, writing, and journalism, not only to create an environment to celebrate these fields, but perhaps one day they will set up scholarships or grants.

It seems that they are only limited by their imagination.

"I've always been a dreamer...it is once in a lifetime to be able to provide my wife with what she dreams of," Oscar said.

Lonnie said her dream has come true: "My vision has been fulfilled; it's like a prayer of response."

Novel Coffee Teas: 710 George Washington Way, Suite BB, Richland; 509-420-4883, Facebook, Instagram.

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