Eskew originally opened her store in 1999 in the shopping center at 20th West and Avenue L where she provided real English tea service. A few years ago, she decided to take a sabbatical, but recently a friend asked her to take a stroll down Lancaster’s new boulevard.
That’s all it took for Eskew to realize it was the perfect place to reopen her popular store.
“I walked in here and fell in love with the kitchen,” Eskew said about the shop located next door to Brooklyn Deli and just down the street from the new movie theater.
Eskew said she spoke to the city’s redevelopment agency but was told they could not help her. She thought her dream of reopening Molly Kate’s was over. However, about 20 minutes later, she received a call from Scott Ehrlich’s Insite Development.
Two weeks later, she made a presentation to their representatives. After just a few minutes into her presentation they told her to stop. Eskew was sure they were going to tell her no.
Instead, they loved the idea. Eskew signed a five-year lease and opened the shop in September.
“I am really impressed with what they did with the boulevard,” Eskew said. “And everybody here helps each other.”
The store is known for its friendliness. When visitors arrive they are welcomed personally by Eskew. Sometimes Eskew sits downs and chats with customers as they enjoy their tea and scones.
Her tea menu changes monthly. December’s menu includes traditional English holiday treats featuring Christmas Scones, Cucumber Sandwiches, Pigs in a Blanket, Roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding with Cranberry Sauce, Plum Pudding and Christmas in a Cup Tea.
Prices are low – from $4.99 for tea and scones; $9.99 for a luncheon tea of scones, fruit compote/soup, sandwich and dessert; and $14.99 for an afternoon tea, which includes Savory Quiche and assorted tea sandwiches and dessert.
Opening in September was great timing for Eschew. The city held the October “BooLVD” event attended by more than 30,000 people. Molly Kate’s won the decorating contest. She proudly shows off the large trophy for all to see and is also hoping to win the Christmas decoration contest.
Christmas is the perfect season for the store, which carries numerous, unique decorations. Molly Kate’s is now the exclusive distributor for ceramic decorations designed and created by the monks at Saint Andrew's Abbey in Valyermo.
One recent Saturday, two of the monks signed their hand made decorations for visitors to the store.
She also an exclusive dealer for Lolita Wine Glasses and sells Marty Bell paintings.
Customer service, a large selection of items and delicious food made when it is ordered is some of the reasons for Molly Kate’s continued success.
Eskew greets everyone who enters her shop and tells them if they can’t find what they are looking for, she will gladly order it for them or have it made.
Along with the numerous unique gifts and decorations, Molly Kate’s offers an original English tea menu of scones, Yorkshire pudding, plum pudding and various teas. Having grown up in England and having an English mother, Eskew knows the proper way to serve the many types of teas, from Cream Teas to Afternoon Teas to High Teas.
“It’s so different here. In England, people eat dinner later, about 8 o’clock. So they have High Tea to get them through till dinner,” Eskew said.
Eskew is accustomed to hard work, is used to being a leader and has business savvy many others don’t. She followed her in father’s footsteps and enlisted in the Air Force at a time when few women served in the military. She also worked six years at the office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon and has dealt with foreign investments in the US and trade security policies.
It was while she was in Washington that Eskew met and married her husband. After he was transferred to Edwards Air Force Base, Eskew retired from the military. She taught elementary school for a while until health issues caused her to give up teaching.
Eskew is happy with her new location and the community is happy to have her back so they can enjoy finding wonderful gifts for friends and decorative items for their home. Then they can relax with a cup of tea and a scone.
Molly Kate’s, named after Eskew’s two daughters, is located at 730 West Lancaster Blvd. Tea service is offered Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All food is prepared on site and prices include a never-ending pot of tea. She offers 65 different types of teas.
Reservations are required for tea. Call Karen at (661) 726-7000 or email her at sales
@mollykates.com
