A dark blue storefront at 5409 South Tacoma Way now carries a "coming soon" sign. By fall, it will be BahLake (pronounced bah-lah-kay), a holistic wellness shop selling teas, tinctures, and herbal products.

Owner Raf Bah told the Tacoma News Tribune the store should open within two to three months of the article's July 23 publication, putting the target in September or October 2026.

The space previously housed a Nationwide Insurance office, and Bah said the insurance tenant tipped him off when it became available.

The location sits a few doors from People's Pilates and Howdy Bagel on a stretch of South Tacoma Way that has drawn new small businesses.

Who's behind it

Bah said he got into holistic wellness about 10 years ago after dealing with personal health issues. He began researching natural Chinese, Ayurvedic, and African medicine, and in 2020 created Brain New Tea, a loose-leaf blend formulated to support memory and focus. Its ingredients include yerba mate, ginger, reishi mushroom, and bacopa, an Ayurvedic herb.

Since then, Bah has sold Brain New Tea and hair oil products on Amazon and through his mother's store, BahDiallo African Imports, in Lakewood.

What customers can expect

BahLake's product line will include Brain New Tea, other herbal teas, "focus shots," tinctures, hair and skin care products, and African goods, according to Bah.

Prices will undercut Amazon. A bag of loose-leaf Brain New Tea will sell for $19 in the store versus $29 online, Bah said.

Bah also plans to host workshops and produce podcasts on holistic wellness as part of a community education effort.

"If I can make people socially aware, it becomes bigger than just selling a product," Bah told the News Tribune. "I don't have to sell you a product if you understand the importance of what you're doing and why you're doing it."

A website for BahLake was still in development as of July 23. No opening date beyond the two-to-three-month window has been announced.