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Holiday shoppers can have their fortunes told for free Sunday, December 3, during the debut of Tysons Corner’s new in-mall eatery, Turkish Coffee Lady Café.
The new shop, created by first-time restaurateur Gizem Salcigil White, plans to provide complimentary online readings to customers that purchase a combo deal pairing Turkish coffee with select sweets. The self-styled coffeehouse plans to serve an array of Turkish goods, including coffee, teas, as well as regionally inspired desserts like baklava. The 26-seat refuge inside the mall encourages lingering, with wood paneling, soft chairs, and coffee served in delicate glassware and copper sets.
Turkish-American founder White is intimately connected to the other side of the world, having learned about the Turkish coffee culture as part of a cultural diplomacy initiative over the past five years.
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Her journey began in 2012 via a “Turkish Coffee Truck” project that involved volunteering across the U.S., Canada, and Europe to create and document cross-cultural connections. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post and honored by the U.S. Congress.
“Turkish coffee culture is recognized by UNESCO’s World Heritage list as a cultural inheritance that should be protected,” she says in a release.
OG coffee products will be at the ready, including pours from Turkey’s oldest coffee ground seller, Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, The world’s first automatic Turkish coffee maker, Arzum Okka, will also be for sale.
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The menu also features non-Turkish coffee products, such as Colombian coffee, traditional Turkish tea, herbal teas, and Mediterranean ice cream products by Lezzetli.
The shop, which sits on the ground floor of Lord & Taylor’s court, is projected to operate from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The initial opening is a short one: she’ll open from 2 pm. to 4 p.m. on December 3.
Meanwhile, Tysons’ sister mall is prepping for the anticipated arrival of Mike Isabella’s mega upstairs food court.
Status: Scheduled to open at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 3. 1961 Chain Bridge Rd, Tysons, Va.; website.
