Barnes and Morgan is a place to learn about both tea and personal style in a warm, welcoming environment
At Barnes and Morgan in Old Town, tea sets, gathered from estate sales, sit on shelves mounted on brick walls. Mismatched light fixtures hang over the counter, shining light on a tray of baklava. A group comes in to check out the space, and Amir Morgan — a tea purveyor, textile artist, and clothing designer — greets them warmly. Instead of handing them a menu, he asks questions about what they like.
“I like mint tea,” one says.
“Peppermint? Spearmint?”
“Ginger is good too.”
“Well for a strong ginger…” Morgan says, reaching for a black canister. The visitor laughs. “I can smell it from here.”
As various customers enter the stylish, minimalist shop, Morgan takes a similar approach. He digs through drawers and cabinets to unearth bags of tea leaves, herbs, some curled into small spheres, others reminiscent of dried bouquets. While people wait for their tea to steep, his mother, Diane Barnes Morgan, greets each customer, offering to show them the back room where Morgan keeps his art. Barnes and Morgan Tea and Threads — part tea shop, part fashion house, which opened in late January — is unlike many of either category. In the front space…