Our Story
The dream we kept talking about
Sage & Story's began the way most good ideas do — in long conversations between two sisters. Through the slow months of the pandemic, Khrystyne and Cassandra kept returning to the same quiet longing: a teahouse built around the things they loved most — books, wellness, and a reason to slow down.
The dream stayed in the margins for years, until their mother stepped in. "We just kept talking about it for years — like, it would be nice, let's open a teahouse," Cassandra remembers. "And one day she was like, 'Alright, stop talking about it — I got you an LLC.'" The keys to 27 Central Avenue followed in January, and Sage & Story's has been coming to life ever since.
“It's inclusive — everyone is welcome.”
— Khrystyne, co-founder
Meet Khrystyne & Cassandra
Khrystyne is a certified therapist who has spent years thinking about what actually helps people feel at rest — not just the cup in front of them, but the room around it, the pace of the afternoon, the permission to put the phone down. Her care is woven into everything on the menu and everything about the space.
Cassandra is the maker. Many of the small-batch blends on the menu came out of her kitchen first — classics reimagined, new pairings tested and retested, and the house's signature heritage blend. Together, they're building the kind of room where the tea and the story hold equal weight.
The room
The space takes its cues from something storybook — a warm, Beauty-and-the-Beast interior of vintage teacups, soft seating, and library-lit quiet. Much of the teaware was thrifted or donated, each piece carrying its own small history before it found its way to the shelf.
Tall windows open onto Central Avenue and the Hammonton town clock — a street view that makes the room feel both anchored and a little outside of time. It's a place built for afternoons that don't need to be anywhere else.
Tea with care
Alongside the classics, the house menu leans into wellness — blends crafted for relaxation, for sleep, for the in-between afternoon that needs a little steady. Because Khrystyne's background is clinical, the sisters are deliberate about how herbs can interact with medications and existing conditions. "We've been very diligent about that," she says. Ask at the counter — they're happy to guide you.
Our signature heritage blend is Coquito & Candlelight — spiced coconut rooibos layered with vanilla and milk, finished with cinnamon cold foam or whipped cream. Beyond the cup, the room holds space for the reasons tea has always brought people together: book clubs, writing meetups, author visits, and private events.
Come linger with us
We open May 1. Mother's Day afternoon tea sittings are already on the calendar for May 9 and 10 — tiered service, seasonal pastries, and a quiet afternoon. Reserve a sitting, or simply stop by when our doors open.
