Venue in The Bahamas will serve as a testbed for further resort-based outlet growth as the bubble tea chain seeks to scale its presence and diversify its store portfolio in the Americas
Taiwanese bubble tea chain Gong cha has announced plans to open its first Caribbean location at Atlantis Paradise Island, in The Bahamas.
In a press release, the London-headquartered bubble tea chain said the flagship store will serve as a blueprint for future resort-based outlet growth. Gong cha has yet to provide a planned launch date for the site.
Atlantis is an ocean-themed casino resort located on Paradise Island and includes a 154-acre waterpark, the largest open-air marine habitat in the world and other recreational facilities. The Gong cha partnership is part of a $250m renovation programme focused on new dining and retail options and will see the bubble tea chain gain access to the resort’s 7,000 daily visitors.
“This location allows Gong cha to reach a truly global guest base, and demonstrates how our brand continues to evolve through strategic hospitality partnerships,” said Michael Nedelkovich Jr, Vice President of U.S. Non-Traditional Franchise Development, Gong cha.
The partnership forms part of Gong cha’s planned expansion within high-traffic, non-traditional venues – which also includes airports, universities and amusement parks. In May 2025, Nedelkovich Jr. described these locations as key touchpoints for engaging with its core Gen Z and Millennial consumer base.
Founded in Taipei in 2006, Gong cha now operates 2,200 stores across 29 markets globally, including more than 240 outlets in the US. The bubble tea chain, which also has a presence in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Honduras, is seeking to reach 500 stores in the Americas by 2028 and has franchise agreements in place to launch in Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala.
