What Should Be Served In Billy Corgan's Upcoming Tea Shop?

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Dec 30, 2011 8:00PM

Eater Chicago reported yesterday that Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan is opening a 1930s-style Chinese tea house in suburban Highland Park this spring. (And do we expect a lot of photos from his friend Art Shay when that happens.)

Corgan told Eater's Ari Bendersky he wants his tea shop to be something of a cultural center, with rotating art exhibits and musical performances. It'll be housed in a former U.S. Post Office in the Ravinia neighborhood on Roger Williams Avenue, and Highland Park's mayor has been incredibly supportive of the endeavor.

"It has a whimsical feel to it ... it'll feel like you're stepping back in time in terms of space, but what we put into the space will change," he said. "My dream number is changing it 15 to 20 times a month where you're inviting people to talk about film or have an open mic night."

Corgan has been keeping busy with both musical and non-musical projects in recent months. There have been the Gish and Siamese Dream reissues that reminded us of the early ferocity of the Pumpkins; an oldie but goodie of a song recently unearthed from the Pumpkins' archives as a free download; and Resistance Pro Wrestling, Corgan's independent wrestling promotion. But one question Bendersky didn't ask Billy: What would be served at his tea house?

We sat down and came up with some suggestions, based on Smashing Pumpkins songs and albums.

• "Pisces Iscariot" fish and chips.
• "Landslide" lava cake.
• "Drown" bottomless cups of tea.
• Siamese Dream-sicle
• Blue (Berry) Pies Bring Tears
• Billy's Great Pumpkin latte
• "Soma" Chamomile tea
• "Jellybellly" gelato
• "Galapagos" turtle pie
• Doughnuts with the Everlasting Glaze
• "Rotten Apples" Turnovers
• "Today" specials
• Something from their "Zero" calorie menu
• "Melon Collie" Tea
• Vintage "1979" Red Wine
• "Cherub Rock" Cake
• "Apples and Oranjes" Fruit Salad