Persephone was a spring child. Her world shifted, however, when she tugged at a rose bush that she deemed ugly. When the bush parted from the ground, a gaping hole opened, and the god of the underworld, Hades, snatched her down to be his bride. Her mother, Demeter, Greek goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility, became distraught. She bombarded Zeus, the god of sky and thunder, with concerns and objections. When he could not appease her, Demeter halted the growth of crops and nature, causing the earth to freeze over. In the underworld, Persephone was showered with gifts. She refused them, claiming that she was unhappy, but secretly, she enjoyed the change. Zeus eventually decided to do something about Demeter’s mourning, but when Hermes went to grab Persephone, it was discovered that six pomegranate seeds had passed her lips. Because of this, a compromise was made: Persephone would remain in the underworld for six months, and on Earth with her mother for the other half. For this reason, there are times when the land must slumber beneath snow, and times when plants can grow.
The Greek myth of Persephone parallels the changing of seasons on Earth, and captures the dual nature of Fable, a teahouse and giftshop, and Underworld, a cocktail lounge in Southington, Connecticut. Tina Parziale is the co-owner of both businesses. “By day, we’re a teahouse gift shop, by night we’re a cocktail lounge.” The location exhibits a dual identity: the light, calm, and approachable aspect of Fable and the darker, and more romantic aspect of Underworld. Just as Persephone must inhabit both realms for the seasonal cycle to exist, the business needs both identities to be whole.
“I think Persephone’s journey from [the] earth side to the underworld’s a great example. We cycle through it. Each time we go down and emerge, we learn new things and try to bring opportunities for growth and imagination.” To Tina, the transformative shift between the underworld and the earth is not a negative one, it’s a process that shapes Persephone as a character. It’s a cycle of growth that allows for learning and creativity. Even though Persephone became Queen of the Underworld, she was still a spring child. Tina believes that embracing contrast and transition is what makes their business meaningful. It’s that difference and transformation that draws people toward Fable. It’s a total shift from their daily routine, and a chance to learn more about themselves and others.
Loose pages, birdcages, flower bouquets, and sages. Those are just a few things hanging from the ceiling at the tea house and oddities shop. Following the floral ribbons and globe lights, guests enter a whimsical world that offers fresh tea and even fresher conversation. The interior is vaguely split into four sections: the apothecary, the woods, the garden, and the library, but the vast collection of ornate items merge the sections into one wonderful story.
The fanciful tea and gift shop, which could be mistaken for a fairy’s abode, enchants passersby on Center Street. Tina greets visitors with a smile from behind the counter. Her presence is like sunlight to a flower. She dons a Fable t-shirt with an assortment of graphics like mushrooms, herbs, and insects, layered beneath a black-and-white plaid button-up. Her ears are adorned with piercings, though the dangling leaf earrings demand attention. Tina guides tea enthusiasts toward a choice of tea that will satisfy their palates.
The tea-making process is simple, but it takes time. Tina purposefully bags loose leaves for each cup ordered, then lets them steep for a few minutes. The method creates an opportunity to pause and slow down. “Tea demands attention, and it demands that we pause, because it takes time to brew. It’s not instant.” In a way, the process mirrors the changing of seasons, with each one arriving in its own time, never early, never late. One cannot rush winter into spring; Only after the snow melts, can spring quietly take its place. The tea making at Fable is intentional because it cultivates a moment of meditation in a world that demands instant gratification.
“The way that you see yourself is the way that you tell stories about yourself.”
The absence of urgency also fosters storytelling. As visitors wait for their tea, some engage in conversation. “Whether we know it or not, we are the stories that we tell about ourselves.” A simple answer to “how was your day?” is someone reading aloud a page or two in their book. It’s a glimpse of a life that has value, even if the words seem surface level. “It’s also an opportunity to hold the reins in your own story. The way that you see yourself is the way that you tell stories about yourself. So control the narrative, you know?”
Before opening Fable in Southington, Tina taught English, creative writing, and theater at Classical Magnet School in Hartford. Evan Seide, Tina’s partner in life and in business, used to teach technical theater at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. Their backgrounds in teaching allowed their love for tales to flourish, and they always dreamed of creating a place like Fable. Their dream was realized when COVID-19 put a pause on their careers and travelling. During this break, Tina would make candles of the places that she wished to travel. “I was a really big traveler. And when we were in the shutdown, I obviously couldn’t go anywhere.” When the country started opening up again, the two would go to farmer markets, selling their handmade crafts: candles, herbal salts, and antique jewelry. A mini Fable was forming before their eyes. Tina recounts, “It was a series of very small things that culminated in us being like, ‘you know what, let’s do it.’” And so, they both left their teaching worlds and entered into the whimsical world of Fable.
Inside the enchanting teahouse, where learning blooms differently, and lesson plans have transformed into conversations and workshops, guiding people to tell their stories. Events like “Herb of the Month,” “Tea Tasting,” “Theme-Nights,” and collaborations with other local stores, are helpful in creating a community. For example, Tina has been studying herbalism for about ten years. That was how “Herb of the Month” was created. During the event, Tina chooses a specific herb and teaches participants about how they can make something with it. “It’s kind of a way to rebrand, or tell the story of yourself with education.” Tina embraces her role as a teacher through a new lens. Instead of letting that part of her go, she hones her powers, strengthening Fable’s mythos.
When Fable closes, daytime visitors depart, and a new world slowly emerges. The lights dim, the music fades to silence, and the front door closes. Fable transports guests into Underworld, a dark cocktail lounge. The transformation occurs in a brief period where both businesses are closed between 5p.m. and 6p.m. Tina and Evan carry in the wooden outdoor tables and cobalt-blue cushioned chairs before stepping into the dark themselves, hoping others will soon follow their lead. The two then put away the tea leaves and prepare the alcohol. As the passage to the underworld opens, the back door’s purple light glows, beckoning people inside. The velvet portiere with embroidered birds brushes open, and as guests walk past, they cross the threshold. Because before spring can arrive, winter must take its place.
One of the signature cocktails offered at Underworld is Proserpina, the Roman goddess of spring and death (equivalent to the Greek goddess, Persephone). “In the drink, there are ingredients like rose and pomegranate, which are both linked to her story.” Since Roman mythology comes from Italy, the drink includes amaro, which is an Italian liqueur. Each ingredient is carefully chosen to echo the mythological story. As a result, every drink becomes a unique narrative of its own, shaped by the character it represents.
At an additional price, each cocktail on the main menu has its own characterized ritual kit. The kit contains a summary of the character’s story, an image of the god or goddess, and an interactive activity. Tina describes them as a way, “to kind of learn about the story, connect with the energy of that archetype, and then do something, right? Take that and somehow be reflective on your life, set an intention.” The activities plant an idea, nurturing personal growth like water fosters a flower’s bloom.
“We hope that we are a place where people feel comfortable being themselves. They can be valued, accepted, and celebrated for all of their things that make them unique.” Tina and Evan also emphasize their desire to create a space where customers can get a chance to be creative. The atmosphere acts as an open invitation to one’s own imagination. In these ways, Fable has become “a place to create, to express yourself, to wonder, to tell stories, and to find inspiration in the stories of others.”
The team is currently planning to increase their space for the nighttime experience. Inspired by Dante’s Inferno, Tina and Evan want to create a room that encapsulates the Italian Renaissance. The room will provide a standing area and have a walk-up bar. “Evan found this really cool bar piece that is Italian style. But from the 1920s. So we had to figure out a way to incorporate that piece into the storyline.” They ultimately decided on Dante and Virgil, since they both traveled through the underworld. The story has “these really juicy descriptions of what the entrance to the underworld looks like. So we leaned into that, and I think that’s what we’re gonna do.” The idea is still in the beginning stages, but Tina says that the new feature will be added by this summer.
“Every nook and cranny has something new and different to look at, and discover.”
The concept of Fable and Underworld works because it acts as a palate cleanser to a market driven world that relies on efficiency and productivity. “We are not minimalists,” Tina explains. “Every nook and cranny has something new and different to look at, and discover. It feels like there could be a little gnome chilling out somewhere, right? There is a bit of fancifulness, and I think that’s attractive.” Customers return to Fable and Underworld to unplug and refresh their brains. Who knows? Maybe a gnome will help them look at life through a brighter lens.
Although Persephone was snatched from her familiar world, she found the novelty of the underworld as a pleasant addition to her previous life. Both parts of her are needed to understand her story. Fable and Underworld offer this through their selection of teas, cocktails, and various objects, but the beauty is the stories people share. Storytelling is the bedrock of Fable’s business philosophy. “It is the way that we make meaning of our lives, of ourselves. Every culture, everywhere, universally has stories about their origin, about their day-to-day lives. So stories, I think, are innate to humanity.” Fable is an opportunity for people to be aware of their narrative, and to take a hold of how they perceive themselves. A break from societal pressures allows people the time to heal and discover new parts of themselves as they share their story with others.
“Could I point to something in the store that [represents storytelling]? No, but in the choices that we make, and the way that we market ourselves, the products that we bring in, the way that we interact with people, [storytelling is] always the baseline.” In the end, the connections made at Fable and Underworld leave guests with a better understanding of themselves.
Feature Image : Tina Parziale in Underworld | Photo Credit Angelica Szczygla
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