Marble
LoriBeth Stalcup may be young, but she knows what she wants and is already well on her way to getting there.
Stalcup and friend Jace Godinez liked a particular tea beverage that they would often drink, so much so that when the idea was suggested that Stalcup and Godinez make and sell their own version of the tea, they took the idea and ran with it.
She and Godinez believed Cherokee County needed such a tea, so – with lots of research and some modifications to the original beverage – Boba King was born.
At just 17 and 18 years old, respectively, Stalcup and Godinez have opened up their new business. When they approached a local restaurant with samples of the beverage and inquired about selling them at the location, the restaurant gave them a big yes.
They have been in business now for about a month, with a section set up at El Manzanillo Mexican Restaurant on U.S. 64 West in Murphy. Boba King offers a variety of fun and flavored teas, including mango, brown sugar and strawberry.
When asked what her family thought of her endeavor and where she is today, Stalcup said of her father, “He’s very proud of me, and constantly asks ‘how the Boba goes.’ ”
She plans on continuing her education so she can get an associate’s degree and work as a photographer, while pursuing her ideas to expand Boba King on a larger scale. Stalcup and Godinez hope to purchase their own space and branch out to other towns.
When asked how she felt about how things were going, Stalcup said, “I am very proud of Jace and I for opening Boba King. I have high hopes for us in the future that we are able to become a bigger business with the support of the community.”
They’ve set up a Facebook account and have received community support thus far from neighboring towns such as Blairsville, Ga.; Hayesville; and Hiawassee, Ga. They are seeking to get more help in Murphy.
If you’d like to try one of their Boba King teas, El Manzanillo is open daily except Sundays and Mondays. For details, visit the Boba King Murphy page on Facebook.