Boba CuCue – A Playful, Retail-Driven Boba Experience in Leander
Boba CuCue is not your typical boba tea shop. Located in Leander, this compact storefront—under 1,000 square feet—has a bold and innovative business model that blends boba drinks with entertainment and retail in a vibrant, youth-focused environment.
Unlike traditional tea shops, Boba CuCue attracts many customers through social media and generates a significant portion of its revenue from claw machines, merchandise sales, and other interactive retail elements. Because of the store’s small footprint and narrow layout, we integrated the placement of machines and display shelving into the design from the earliest stages. The goal was to maximize both function and experience without compromising flow or comfort.
When customers enter the store, they are immediately immersed in a playful retail environment—rows of claw machines and curated toy displays create a fun, eye-catching entry that appeals strongly to younger guests, particularly teenage girls. This curated retail zone serves as both entertainment and an intentional design feature, setting the tone before customers even reach the beverage counter.
Beyond this vibrant entry zone, the boba counter and kitchen are efficiently tucked into the back of the space. Though compact, this service area was carefully planned to support a diverse menu, including specialty drinks, dim sum, and hot food items. Workflow, equipment placement, and circulation were all designed to ensure smooth operations and fast service despite space constraints.
From the bold color palette to the whimsical decor, every detail of Boba QQ is designed to create a refreshing and memorable experience that aligns with the owner’s business goals: to stand out in a competitive market and capture the attention of a younger demographic. We’re proud to have helped bring this unique vision to life and look forward to seeing Boba CuCue thrive in the Leander community.
Location: Leander, Texas | Phase: Completion 2025 | Architecture Team: m41 Studio | General Contractor: CapEx Construction | MEP Engineer: Forward MEP
