New Tea and Coffee House Coming to West End

Just when you thought Portsmouth was maxed out when it comes to coffee houses and cafes, another one led by a familiar entrepreneur is in the works at the former Tiny Tot Land store on Islington Street.

A request for a variance to create the "White Heron Tea and Coffee" cafe will go before the city's Board of Appeals on Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Jay McSharry, owner of Jumpin' Jay's Fish Cafe and Moxy, is leading the effort.

According to city documents at the Planning Department, McSharry wants to build a 1,380 square-foot cafe where patrons could enjoy tea and other food items. The variance is seeking to create 20 parking spaces where 60 spaces are currently required.

McSharry also also wants to create White Heron Tea Wholesale in the back of the new cafe for light manufacturing. The total cost of the project to renovate the existing building is listed as $100,000.

According to the application, the owner is listed as the Boxer Family Trust 2010 and McSharry is listed as the applicant.  The BOA's agenda can be viewed on the city's web site.