No Longer Human is quietly remaking how some Evanston residents do tea. The shop opened this spring on Central Street as a deliberate counterpoint to the town’s bubble tea rush, with a compact, tea-centered room built around slow service and hand-selected leaves. Owner Yaoyu Tong has set it up as a place to unplug and treat tea as a ritual, pairing small-lot Japanese leaves with simple ceramics and staff-led tastings. Locals say the teahouse has carved out a niche downtown for quieter, tasting-focused visits.
New teahouse on Central Street
No Longer Human opened to the public on March 7, 2026, at 1810 Central Street, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. The shop is run by Yaoyu Tong, who previously launched Five Elements Home and the paper-goods storefront Passenger, according to Evanston RoundTable.
Design that encourages slowing down
Chicago-based architect Sam Sang Chai Park handled the interior, favoring natural wood, neutral tones and a low counter that guides customers to move more slowly through the space, as shown on the architect’s site SCPA. Beverage director John Klotter and other staff describe the layout and service model as a way to help customers recenter and savor tea instead of rushing through an order, according to a City of Evanston business feature. The result is a compact room that feels closer to a tasting bar than a typical grab-and-go coffee counter.
Teas, sourcing and service
The menu leans on classic Japanese varieties, including matcha, gyokuro and sencha, with both hot and cold preparations, and small-lot leaves available to buy online through a linked retail collection. The shop’s retail page lists several specialty matchas and gyokuros, reflecting the kind of small-batch sourcing the owner pursues, according to Passenger. Tong has said he travels to Japan regularly to source products and that some offerings come directly from small plantation farms, a sourcing practice noted by local reporting.
Hours and visiting
No Longer Human keeps limited hours and is closed Monday through Tuesday. As noted by City of Evanston, the shop lists weekday and weekend daytime hours that make it primarily a daytime destination. The city bulletin shows Wednesday through Saturday openings and a shorter Sunday schedule, so visitors are encouraged to plan for a daytime visit and call ahead or check the shop’s site for the latest hours.
Central Street context
The teahouse sits on Central Street among a cluster of small retailers and gift shops, directly across from Tokaido General Store at 1805 Central, which helps give the block a curated, neighborhood feel, according to Tokaido General Store. No Longer Human also appeared in Central Street’s restaurant week listings, which positioned the shop as part of the neighborhood’s growing food and retail offerings, per Central Street Evanston.
For anyone who wants to slow down and actually sit with a cup, No Longer Human offers a different pace for downtown Evanston, built on small-batch leaves, careful preparation and a quiet counter where the making of tea is the main event.
