ELLSWORTH – “New careers can start at any age, especially if done for fun.”

This quote kept Linda Parenteau going throughout her years in the manufacturing industry. She dreamed of the day she and daughter Melissa Persico could open their own tearoom, a goal 15 years in the making.

Margaret Rose Afternoon Tea opened at 375 W. Kinne St. (the big yellow house next to the Pierce County Courthouse) in Ellsworth on Sept. 19. They serve a three-course traditional English tea, with delectable goodies such as ham salad on Brioche buns, Coronation Chicken on St. Croix Bread, white chocolate lavender scones with clotted cream and jam, petit fours and more. They also provide children’s tea party options, a dessert tea and a cream tea experience.

They serve a variety of teas from Mrs. Kelly’s Tea in Minneapolis and Rishi Tea in Michigan. They haven’t found a more local tea manufacturer but would love to partner with one if possible.

Their baked goods are made fresh by St. Croix Baking Company in Hudson, with dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan options available.

The women became fans of visiting tearooms after a visit to Lady Elegance in St. Paul one year with Melissa’s daughter Maddy over spring break.

“We just loved it so much and we had even said, we wish we could have done this with Margaret (Linda’s mother),” Persico said. “It became kind of a family thing. It became an excuse for birthdays, any special occasions.”

Even when the Covid-19 Pandemic shut many tearooms down, the women thought about one day opening their own space. While they waited patiently for the right time and place to come along, Parenteau continued to host teas for family and friends in her own home.

“I would do tea parties in my home for friends, for birthday parties, for family. I was always having a tea party. I even do it for my own birthday,” Parenteau said. “But I had to retire first.”

She worked at Andersen Windows for many years. When she was going to retire and open her tearoom, Covid happened. She even had a photographer friend take photos for social media and a website when the dream had to be put on hold.

“Covid hit and that really shut us down. The places we were looking at, everything was shut down. We never gave up because it was something we always wanted to do,” Persico said.

When she found the home for sale in Ellsworth with a business space, they knew they had found the perfect place. Persico purchased the home in February 2025 and they installed a commercial kitchenette.

“This section down here was an acupuncture studio, a dentist was here for a long time,” Persico said. “I do body work, like cranial sacral therapy, that’s my full-time gig. I was going to open up a wellness studio.”

The tearoom is named after Parenteau’s mother, Margaret, and Persico’s oldest daughter, whose middle name is Rose.

“It’s a combination of my grandma and my daughter, to represent what we want here, which is you come here and you’re together with the people who mean a lot. The name represents that in a way,” Persico said. “What is really nice and unique about coming to a traditional tea is that it’s not like anything else.”

“It’s not trendy,” Parenteau added.

“You’re not going to a busy restaurant with people coming in and out. We live in such a fast-paced society and everything is so distracting and fast,” Persico continued. “This is a place to come and take your time. You get the tea first, then you get the first course, and then the second.”

The point is not to be rushed, but to savor a personal, intimate experience.

“We don’t have a big space so there’s not going to be a lot of people. Sixteen at once is the top number,” Persico said. “We try to stagger the appointments so it’s not loud in here. We encourage people to spend time together really. And that is really the experience of tea, is spending time together and enjoying the company you’re with.”

Persico hopes people can put away their phones while enjoying the tea experience. She laments that even in coffee shops, the majority of people are on their phones or computers.

“I would personally like to make this a no technology thing,” she said. “You’re not meant to be distracted; you’re meant to be engaged. I feel like that’s kind of a dying thing. Really it’s about the experience and spending time with your family, loved ones and friends and celebrating each other.”

Both women agreed the community response has been welcoming and receptive. They want to help people capture the essence of simplicity in life, at least for a time.

“We had some people in today. A woman said ‘I feel like I’ve sat and taken a breath,’” Persico said. “I just don’t think that we have time anymore to just sit and chat and enjoy and think.”

Parenteau agreed, saying people feel guilty when they’re not productive.

“This is where people, bread and water come together as friends, toast and tea. Not sure where that came from, but I like it,” Parenteau said.

“What is really unique about this space is it’s my house,” Persico said. “I think it gives it even more of a little charm. You’re not going to a building somewhere. It’s more personal, it’s like we’re inviting people into our home.”

Margaret Rose Afternoon Tea is open by reservation only (no walk-ins) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance so fresh baked goods can be procured. They can be made by phone at 715-749-6095 or 612-804-2951 or online at margaretroseafternoontea.com Follow them on Facebook or on Instagram @margaretrosetea