Sou Ngo’s boba shop is selling less and paying more.
Sales at Brew Tea Bar are down 20% to 30% from last year because fewer people are traveling to Las Vegas, Ngo said. At the same time, the cost of the shop’s imported cups, tea and matcha has risen significantly in the wake of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and war in the Middle East.
Ngo founded Brew Tea Bar in 2015 with two of his best friends, and the business has since opened four more locations.
Frank Fossen, an economics professor at UNR, said economic pressures hit Las Vegas small businesses harder because the city relies on tourism.
