Zephan Abel's memory lives on in family's tea shop

Z's Boba Tea

Zephan loved tea and I loved boba so I put the two of them together.”

Richar Abel, owner

FORT MADISON -  The memory of a child lost has turned into a boutique tea shop in downtown Fort Madison.

Zephan Abel, who died two years ago at the age of 16 from a chronic heart and lung issue, is the inspiration for his parents new tea shop called Z's Boba Tea at 821 Avenue G. He died Oct. 11, 2020 during a procedure in Palo Alto, California to try and correct the condition.

Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a ribbon cutting at the new store on the second anniversary of Abel's death..

 "Zephan loved tea and I loved boba so I put the two of them together," said Zephan's mother Richar who choked back tears during the ceremony.

"I thought this would be a great way to honor him."

Richar said Zephan, who was a very outgoing person, was more of a talker than a worker but his presence will be felt throughout the outlet.

"He would be at the front door greeting people and talking with people. He would be talking, not working," Richar laughed.

The color scheme inside and out is an electric green that was used for t-shirts created as Zephan fought with his condition.

Abel said the store will soon expand into food, but they are currently offering flavored teas and lemonade shakeups. The boba is a tapioca pearl like substance created out of brown sugar. They store has been open now for about a week.

"You don't have to have boba in any of your drinks - that's just a misconception," Abel said.

The store is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday's 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for now. She said those hours would be determined by business flow.

In addition to the regular boba pearls, Z's also has the popping bobas that pop in your mouth.

Abel said the business was born out of a dedication to her son. She said they wouldn't have started the business if not for her son's memory.