The former Jabby's Pizza spot on Perkins Road is trading slices for tapioca pearls, as national bubble tea chain Tsaocaa moves into the corner space at Perkins and South Acadian. Permit records show the storefront is being remodeled for the new tenant, which would be the brand’s first location in the Capital Region. Locals passing through the LSU corridor can expect to see construction signs and interior work ramp up in the coming days, all in service of a menu heavy on boba drinks, Hong Kong-style egg waffles and fried chicken.
According to WBRZ, East Baton Rouge Parish permits list David Albrecht as the applicant and name NKE Developments as the contractor on the project. State business filings reviewed by WBRZ show the new business was registered in late June by Mingsai Yang of Denham Springs. The permit paperwork also points to an Instagram account tied to the planned shop that teases an "opening soon" timeline.
Tsaocaa's Menu and U.S. Footprint
Tsaocaa describes itself as a hybrid tea shop and quick-serve concept, pairing more than 100 drink options with Hong Kong egg waffles and several fried chicken flavors, per Tsaocaa. The chain’s locations page lists outlets across multiple states, including Louisiana shops in New Orleans and Chalmette, so the Baton Rouge store would plug into an already growing regional lineup.
Why Perkins Makes Sense
The Perkins Overpass and the broader Perkins Road corridor form one of Baton Rouge’s tightest clusters of bars and restaurants, drawing students, commuters and late-night regulars. Visit Baton Rouge notes that more than a dozen eateries sit under and around the highway, which helps explain why franchised fast-casual concepts keep zeroing in on the strip.
NKE Developments, the contractor listed on the permit, already has a local track record of retail build-outs and remodels and lists David Joe Albrecht as a related employee, according to a contractor profile on BuildZoom. That background lines up neatly with the permit details and points to the project being an interior tenant fit-out rather than a full site overhaul.
There is still no official opening date. An Instagram account associated with the planned location and the permit filings indicate the project remains in the build-out phase, according to WBRZ. As of this writing, Tsaocaa does not list a Baton Rouge address on its national locations page, though the menu at its other U.S. shops offers a clear preview of what the Perkins outpost is likely to serve.
