Hi! 

I'm Michelle.

I’ve spent the majority of my career in the hospitality and hotel industry, working my way up from Guest Services to Director of Sales, and eventually to General Manager of a full-service hotel. One of my most memorable career moves came in October 2008, when I was recruited to relocate to Houston, Texas—less than 30 days after Hurricane Ike made landfall in Galveston. I joined a cluster of four hotels in the Galleria area as an Area Sales Manager, where I helped rebrand a select-service property.

In 2018, I made a significant career shift and became a 911 police dispatcher. It was a job I truly loved—a role I was passionate about and deeply honored to perform. I had the privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated and talented dispatch, fire, and law enforcement professionals in Illinois.

In January 2024, I made another life-changing decision: I left my role in public safety to open The Royal Tea Room.

Afternoon tea has held a special place in my heart for as long as I can remember. My mom and I would enjoy afternoon tea for birthdays, holidays, or sometimes just because. When she passed away in 2022, I felt a calling to do something in memory of the time we spent together. I wanted to create a space where others—mothers, daughters, friends, sisters—could make the same kind of cherished memories my mom and I shared so often.

I hope you find joy and comfort at The Royal Tea Room. More than anything, I hope it becomes a place where you create your own 'forever memories' with the people you love spending time with.

Contact Michelle

Email: michelle@theroyaltearoom.co

The Royal Tea Room is a standalone, English-inspired tea café offering a full afternoon tea experience in an elegant yet cozy setting. Guests enjoy a four- or five-course meal featuring an assortment of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and sweet treats, all beautifully presented on a traditional three-tiered stand and served with a selection of premium loose leaf teas.