Miss Minerva’s Tea Room

TEA ROOM & GIFTS

Miss Minerva’s Tea Room Ashleigh Price

Ashleigh Price has always loved downtown staple Miss Minerva’s Tea Room and Gifts. “I’ve loved this business since I was a young girl when my grandmother took me here for a tea party.” Now as its third owner, she gets to enjoy the business’s magic every day. When she was old enough, she worked there as a waitress. The decorations in the room start as soon as you walk in the door. The first table is dedicated to the late Queen Elizabeth of England. There is a crown on the table, tea cups and several samples of the Queen’s favorite teas. Customers are invited to sign one of the condolence cards which will be sent to the Royal Family. Sitting at this table is the original Miss Minerva mannequin, which sat outside. After many years of greeting the public outside, she was entitled to an indoor job although he has maintained her lovely smile. The tea room is lit by beautiful glass chandeliers. The room can accommodate thirty people. The space has been used for bridal or baby showers, and adult’s or children’s birthday parties. Price loves hosting young children so that she can introduce them to flavored teas such as chocolate mint tea. She also teaches them about tea room manners. She enjoys seeing them become comfortable in a restaurant setting. Price and her staff are concerned about food allergies and they work to protect their customers. Price has three employees and her husband, Casey Stanley, also helps out on Saturdays and is an integral part of the business whenever needed. Customers can choose from the 50 teas they offer. Guests are also welcome to use any of the hats that decorate the walls. Each time a hat is used, it is sanitized before it is used again. Guests can also choose from a menu of food items for lunch or tea time. In the gift shop there are teas for writers, and book lovers. They sell miniature sets, children’s tea sets, and tea pots with delicate floral patterns. If a customer is looking for a specific pattern, Price will try to find it. She works with “Skirted Soldier,” a company which makes military themed tea blends. A portion of the proceeds go to female veteran organizations. Millian Candles Enterprises also use Miss Minerva’s tea blends in their candles. The mission is two-fold. One goal is to help children become comfortable in a restaurant setting. The other part is to make people aware of the benefits of tea. Her vision is to become an integral part of downtown Culpeper and to see Culpeper’s other businesses thrive. Price has partnered with staff from Le Monkey House, Vinosity and Ravens Nest for the very popular Harry Potter scavenger hunt day. She hopes to continue to participate in yearly themed events to continue to bring Culpeper residents and alike downtown and into the world of tea.