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Bubble Island to close after 15 years in East Lansing

November 14, 2019
<p>East Lansing High School sophomore Katherine Hawthorne pays for her last bubble tea on Nov. 14, 2019. The East Lansing Bubble Tea Island location is set to close on Nov. 16. </p>

East Lansing High School sophomore Katherine Hawthorne pays for her last bubble tea on Nov. 14, 2019. The East Lansing Bubble Tea Island location is set to close on Nov. 16.

Photo by Sylvia Jarrus | The State News

East Lansing's Bubble Island will close on Nov. 16 after 15 years of providing Michigan State students with the Taiwanese-based drink.

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"With any business, we obviously want to make sure that we’re doing everything to the best of our ability and giving the best service that we absolutely can give," Ariana Warfield, Bubble Island's general manager, said.

The decision to close was based on the difficulty in remaining competitive while also staying true to the company, Warfield said.

In 2015, Bubble Island remodeled the interior of the business in order to create a more student-friendly atmosphere.

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Future plans for the space are unknown according to Warfield.

“We just had to come to the conclusion that remaining in this space just was not serving not only the community but just the greater Lansing area as a whole at this point," Warfield said. "And so, it was just the best option to go ahead and part ways, unfortunately. “

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