MILLERTON — The former home of Candy-O’s on Main Street will soon get new life, with a Bangkok-inspired tea shop expected to open in June.
Millerton residents John Schildbach and Kanchisar Jiradhanaiphat hope to open Muanjai Tea on June 6. The couple — who are set to be married in May — are currently securing permits to renovate the former candy store, with plans to transform the space into a Thai-inspired tea shop modeled after urban cafés, featuring an elevated atmosphere and menu.
“This isn’t going to be a bubble tea shop,” Schildbach said, describing a menu that seeks to bring authentic Thai tea culture to Millerton.
Highlights will include nom yen — a pink milk tea made with sweetened condensed milk and flavored syrup — as well as coffee cham yen, a blend of coffee and tea. The menu will also feature Thai tea ice cream floats, lattes and matcha drinks.
But the pair don’t want to limit the menu to just desserts and sweets. Schildbach said they are aiming for a sophisticated — yet affordable — menu that offers an authentic, approachable take on Thai tea shops.
That desire for authenticity will be built into the space itself, Schildbach said. Plans for the tea shop include adding a wall to create a service window typical of Bangkok tea shops, accented with tile and wood details.
The goal is to fit in with Millerton’s current lineup of Main Street businesses, while providing a unique experience for locals and visitors alike.
“It’s going to be like you’re in a tea shop in Thailand,” Schildbach said.
The pair are currently waiting approval from the Dutchess County Department of Health for the tea shop’s septic system — a process that Schildbach said is causing the biggest delays and may require adjustments to planned interior seating.
Businesses in Millerton rely on private septic systems that limit allowable capacity. That friction between local business interests and Health Department regulations spurred village and Town of North East officials to collaborate on a municipal wastewater system that’s planned to begin construction in 2027 with a target completion date in 2028.
In the meantime, Schildbach and Jiradhanaiphat must seek approval from county officials before officially opening. Schildbach said he hopes inspectors will consider the incoming wastewater system and grant some leeway for the tea shop.
Once it’s open, the pair plans to offer drinks at a comparable price to surrounding businesses. To keep operating costs low, Schildbach and Jiradhanaiphat plan to staff the shop themselves at first. They plan to open the shop from Thursdays through Mondays, but have yet to set specific hours.
Schildbach said he plans to expand gradually, adding staff and menu items in step with growing demand.
Eventually, Schildbach and Jiradhanaiphat hope to broaden the menu to include Thai-American fusion and more complete meals, but the shop will initially focus on beverages and small bites.
“I think that would be really cool to bring some more of that,” Schildbach said, drawing attention to Thai cuisine’s rising popularity in the United States. “People seem to be excited about it.”
Meg Sher, executive director of the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village.L. Tomaino 
