One-to-One Customer Service Sets Tea Shop Up for Success

It takes a certain volume of customers for any business to survive. And Mark Biviano wasn’t certain his new venture—Loka Leaf Tea Lounge—would be able to draw enough from the small town Cazenovia, NY, population when he opened in 2015. Afterall, coffee was the preferred beverage to sit, sip and savor. 

Four years later, he’d seen enough. He was ready to buy the building he’d rented over that time knowing that Loka had made its way into the hearts of his customers. His patrons lauded his attention to detail as he provided a unique experience with each visit that was curated just for them. Unfortunately, he struggled to get that same attention from other banks when trying to secure a loan. So, he turned to Barbara Houghton at Community Bank, N.A.

“When I went to Community Bank, they made the appointment immediately to come and see my place,” he said. ​“We traded paperwork, had some tea, and then, within a few short weeks, I owned the building. How wonderful is that?”