THUNDER BAY — A new boba shop has opened up on the property of Canadian Tire in the Thunder Centre directly to the left of the entrance.
Shane DelaCruz and Luigi Red Baradi, a couple who are both from the Philippines, began sales at City Boba on July 8.
“I like drinks, I love trying new drinks and I love boba. I’ve tried the bobas here, but that's when I had a feeling to make my own.
“I usually do it at home, but then we came up with an idea to try to open a business because we love boba, we love tea and milk,” DelaCruz said.
She said that the reaction has been good, and some people are interested in trying out boba especially if it’s their first time.
“We had a customer that was just walking by, then tried a drink. She drove back here just to tell us that it's good.
"We appreciate that,” she said
"Some are interested because they haven't tried boba in their life. lots of people are asking what boba is. They have no idea what boba is. They said it's good, and a good idea,” Baradi said.
Baradi is also manager at the Canadian Tire location. He lived in Yellowknife prior to Thunder Bay, where he got his permanent residency.
He moved to Thunder Bay just about two years ago, with his boss from Canadian Tire in Yellowknife.
DelaCruz is a graduate from business at Confederation College, which was what brought her to Thunder Bay.
For DelaCruz and Red Baradi, it was a little bit stressful getting everything in line, but now the two are just excited to share the boba drinks.
City Boba will be open weekends and some weekdays, for the remainder of the summer, and the owners are hoping to stay open throughout winter as well.
