Boba, Taiwan toast and … swings! Johnson County bubble tea shop opens in Park Place
.jpg "Bruú Café Bubble Tea Shop in Leawood’s Park Place opened in May, three years after the start of its first location at the Country Club Plaza.")
After almost three years at its Country Club Plaza location, a popular Kansas City bubble tea shop has just expanded to Johnson County.
Bruú Café Bubble Tea Shop at 5225 W. 116th Place opened in Leawood in May and is already gaining new fans in its new Park Place location. The boba shop is taking over the space formerly occupied by health cafe t.Loft.
The second store is larger with a bright, swinging atmosphere — quite literally. Customers can enjoy traditional seating or sip their drinks from a large, cushioned swing right by the entrance.
The customizable teas vary in sweetness and come with tapioca pearls in a variety of flavors, including brown sugar, strawberry and mango.
Owner Bay Vanithbuncha doesn’t want to stop expanding anytime soon. The ambitious entrepreneur and avid bubble tea-drinker from Thailand hopes to make boba a staple in the heart of the country.
“It’s challenging for Midwest people to try the unique recipe from Bruú Cafe,” she said. “I’m trying to introduce new people to the boba experience.”
When Vanithbuncha first opened her store at 4709 Central St., a majority of her customers told her they had never tried bubble tea before.
Now, she feels she’s built a steady customer base that is only growing, and interest in boba has grown in Kansas City, partly thanks to Bruú.
“It’s 50/50 for new customers coming and regulars coming back,” she said.
For newbies, she recommends a classic milk tea with hazelnut flavor and brown sugar tapioca. She also sells lemonade, Italian soda and energy drinks with fruit or rainbow boba.
Her kids’ menu with smaller sizes was inspired by her own two kids, ages 5 and 8, though she laughed and added they still ask for a large size.
Vanithbuncha’s husband is not a part-owner, but he’s custom built her kiosks for both locations so customers can order without having to approach the counter.
Bruú offers Taiwan toast with a sweet butter glaze on top that contains a special ingredient Vanithbuncha wouldn’t give away but guaranteed it was “very yummy” (and another thing her children ask her for regularly).
She hopes to expand her menu to include more desserts very soon.
Bruú in Leawood is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.
This story was originally published June 8, 2023 at 5:30 AM.