WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA — One of downtown Walnut Creek’s most visible corners is getting a new tea shop with a very big following overseas.
Chagee, the Chinese tea chain, is coming to 1500 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, at the corner of North Main Street. It will occupy the corner portion of the former Vineyard Vines space, alongside the upcoming Bacio di Latte gelato shop.
One person involved in the opening told us that Chagee is a bit like the “Starbucks of China”, but focused solely on teas. And not the already-ubiquitous boba tea, either.
A New Use for a Familiar Corner
Developer Brian Hirahara confirmed Chagee’s arrival to Bay Area Telegraph in an October 8 email.
“We’re creating 2 spaces,” he wrote. “The Corner space will be Chagee.” We stopped by to see the space coming together for ourselves.
Indeed, the former clothing store is becoming two separate stops for drinks and dessert. As we recently reported, Bacio di Latte is planning a December 11, 2026, grand opening, with the possibility of opening sooner.
The location puts Chagee right at the meeting point of Mt. Diablo Boulevard and downtown’s Main Street shopping and dining corridor. It’s an easy spot to imagine grabbing a drink during a shopping trip or after lunch downtown.
So, What Is Chagee?
Chagee traces its beginnings to Yunnan, China, in November 2017. Its concept pairs tea drinks with modern gathering spaces — a familiar idea for anyone who uses a coffeehouse as a place to meet a friend or take a break.
The Starbucks comparison helps explain the ambition and scale. Chagee reported 7,639 teahouses worldwide as of June 30, 2026.
Its current U.S. tea latte menu includes BOYA Tea Latte, made with jasmine green tea and milk, plus Peach Oolong, Amber Oolong, Roasted Black Tea and Ceylon Black Tea lattes.
The company describes BOYA as its global bestseller. Other options range from peach notes to the deeper roasted flavors of oolong and black tea.
Chagee’s broader U.S. menu also includes pure teas, matcha, citrus drinks and blended teas. Those offerings give a sense of the brand; Walnut Creek’s opening menu and prices have yet to be confirmed.
When Will It Open?
Chagee’s arrival appears to be part of a much larger Bay Area rollout.
The San Francisco Business Times reported October 7 that the chain plans at least six Bay Area locations, including Walnut Creek and Concord. The report says all six are expected to open in 2027.
An exact Walnut Creek opening date hasn’t been announced in the sources reviewed for this story. Bacio di Latte’s planned December celebration is a separate timeline.
We’ll keep following up with our sources and will let you know as soon as we have an opening date. Join our free 925 News newsletter here, so we can share the opening date as soon as we learn it.
