As cooler days approach, Peekskill residents will soon be able to find comfort in delicious drinks (hot and cold) being served at Peekskill Boba, Westchester’s newest bubble tea shop.
The store, which is having its grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 19, is located at 117 North Division Street. The first 10 guests to shop at Peekskill Boba will receive a free small drink of their choice, according to the store’s social media pages.
“I’m so pumped. I can’t wait to meet everybody. It’s been a long time coming,” said owner Chanel Anglin when speaking to the Herald earlier this week.
Anglin, 24, is a Peekskill native and a first time business owner. Prior to opening Peekskill Boba, Anglin was self-employed working in the finance industry for several years. Her decision to open Peekskill Boba first came to her in 2021.
“For a year, I sort of juggled deciding whether it would be a good idea or not. Then in April 2022, I decided I actually wanted to pursue it,” said Anglin. Two years after Peekskill Boba officially became a company, Anglin secured the lease for her property at 117 North Division St in February 2024. She admitted that it took her quite a while to find an appropriate space that would accommodate the business she envisioned.
The jump from finance to the food/beverage industry is a big one, but Anglin says it’s one she needed to take. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. But really what it came down to for me was, I wanted to have a job that when I woke up everyday I was happy with what I was doing.”
Another factor that drove Anglin to open her business was due to the lack of bubble tea shops in the area. “There is scarcity here in Westchester. People have to drive to places like White Plains, Mahopac or Cold Spring. The scarcity is really what drove me to want to bring one (bubble tea shop) here to Peekskill.”
When customers enter the store for the first time they will see the results of Anglin’s hard work and dedication. To the right of the entrance door is a large art mural and to the left a brick wall with a neon sign saying, “Down Your Troubles in Bubbles”. Customers can place their orders at the counter inside the store or place an order through the website. The establishment offers free wifi and could easily become the city’s newest social hangout destination.
Peekskill Boba will offer 67 menu items and a seasonal pumpkin menu that will run through November 30. All menu items are customizable and almost all can be turned vegan, says Anglin. Seasonal menus will rotate throughout the year.
People’s go-to when Peekskill Boba opens will undoubtedly be Boba, but Anglin says many are unaware of what Boba is. “People will say Boba and we know they’re talking about the entire drink,” said Anglin.
Taiwanese in origin, Boba is a small chewy tapioca pearl and an ingredient in bubble tea. Boba is mostly made out of tapioca starch, which comes from the cassava plant. The drink blends milk, tea, and a variety of flavors, from classic black or green tea to fruity concoctions like passion fruit or mango.
“Customers should choose Peekskill Boba due to the fact that our business mission is to provide the highest quality ingredients and we have tons of options that other stores don’t have. We also have a lot of sales and loyalty programs. Everything a customer wants from a boba shop, we have it here,” said Anglin.
Peekskill Boba will be offering: Mocha Mondays from 3-5 pm, where customers can purchase any size mocha drink and get the second 50% off, Taro Tuesdays from 3-5 pm where customers can purchase any size taro drink and get the second 50% off, Thai Tea Thursdays from 3-5pm where customers can purchase any size thai tea and get the second 50% off. On Fridays, students received a 10% discount on their orders the entire day.
Two forms of loyalty programs will also be available for customers. The first is a punch card where customers will need to purchase eight drinks to get the ninth free. The second is at the cash register at the store where customers can give their phone numbers and receive points for every dollar they spend.
For now, Peekskill Boba will not be found on any food delivery apps, says Anglin.“We’ve been juggling along the way, whether we should do it or not but boba is perishable.”
“If we were to sign up, anyone from anywhere would be able to order from us and we wouldn’t want someone who lives 30 minutes to order our drink and the flavor diminishes by the time it gets to them.”
At the moment, Peekskill Boba cannot sell food or snacks but Anglin hopes to offer this in the future. Mochi waffles, soft serve ice cream for boba floats, and taiyaki ice cream are just some of the menu items Anglin would like to add.
Peekskill Boba will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. The establishment will be closed on Sundays. Customers who wish to stay up to date on all things Peekskill Boba, can follow the establishment on Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads, and their website.
