Uni Uni Bubble Tea Owner Struggles to Stay Open Amid Second Street Construction

ROCHESTER — Joy Tiger remains steadfast in her commitment to keep the doors of Uni Uni Bubble Tea open, even amid the extensive construction on Second Street Southwest that has significantly impacted her business. “People don’t want to come here. Even my own friends think it’s a huge hassle to come here,” she said, as construction machinery rumbled just outside her vibrant shop windows. “I am going to survive. I’m not closing it down without a fight. This is my dream.”

Uni Uni, which opened its doors in early 2023 at 1227 Second St. SW, is conveniently located across from Mayo Clinic’s Saint Marys Hospital. The shop was envisioned as an ideal spot to offer boba tea and fruit smoothies, catering to the many hospital staff and visitors.

Initially, the store flourished, attracting customers with its cheerful atmosphere and a focus on fresh fruit and high-quality Taiwanese tea. However, it took years to recoup the renovation costs for the 84-year-old building that once housed Fiksdal Flowers for nearly seven decades.

As the business began to stabilize, construction for the Link Bus Rapid Transit project began, effectively isolating Uni Uni amid dirt and disruption. Additionally, Mayo Clinic is constructing a new pedestrian tunnel directly adjacent to the shop.

Jeff Kiger / Post Bulletin

Tiger, now the sole proprietor of Uni Uni, soon discovered that her shop was blocked from all sides. Although the City of Rochester promoted available parking behind the establishment, foot traffic dwindled remarkably. “Before, we would do around $1,000 of sales on a summer day. Now, it is $300 or maybe $400. In the winter, it drops to $100, which doesn’t even cover our costs,” she noted.

With construction scheduled to be completed by October 2027—coinciding with the end of Uni Uni’s lease—Tiger remains skeptical about the timeline.

Additionally, tariffs have increased the costs of the high-quality black and green tea imported from Taiwan, while rising gas prices have made fresh fruit and other ingredients more expensive.

To adapt to these access challenges, Tiger is bringing Uni Uni to various events across the region. Her six-member team will be selling at the weekly Thursdays Downtown street markets, Smooth Summer Nights concerts at Sargent’s North, and Rochester’s Watson Sports Complex during Saturday morning soccer games. They will also have a presence twice a week at the Discovery Walk in downtown, with additional appearances in Lanesboro, Byron, and Stewartville.

In an effort to diversify offerings, Tiger plans to include food items like chicken, grilled hot dogs, and Taiwanese sausages from Ye Olde Butcher at Uni Uni’s pop-up events. She is also working on getting “a really, really cute boba truck” to replace the current tent setup.

Recently, Uni Uni began selling prepared drinks at Victoria’s Express, located at 7 First Ave. SW in downtown Rochester, right next to Victoria’s Restaurant & Wine Bar. This partnership arose after Natalie Victoria, a fellow entrepreneur, expressed interest in collaborating. “She instantly texted me back and said yes. I didn’t think it’d be that easy. It’s very, very nice,” said Tiger. “Businesses in Rochester support each other.”

In turn, Uni Uni promotes nearby Pen and Michael Seeley’s Thai-riffic eatery, which is also grappling with the impacts of the Second Street construction.

Keeping Uni Uni operational entails long hours, requiring late nights and early mornings for Tiger, but she is resolute in her commitment to her dream. “I’ve always liked working in the food industry, especially for a boba tea shop. I love making drinks. I’m going to do whatever I can to keep my dream alive,” Tiger emphasized.

Andrew Link / Post Bulletin

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