When students return to Oregon State University this fall, the food scene on Monroe Avenue may look a little different.
After operating as Frosty Fox for more than a decade, the longtime bubble tea franchise is rebranding as SOKO Tea, beginning a new independent chapter while keeping the staff and several customer-favorite drinks.
The change comes after owner Kyeongmin Choi, a recent OSU graduate, took over the business in January 2025. With the franchise agreement coming to an end, Choi said the rebrand gave him the opportunity to establish a brand of his own.
“I just wanted to build something that was mine,” Choi said.
Frosty Fox first opened around 2013 under previous ownership. Choi, who studied management at OSU, said he saw potential not only in the location, but also in the community it had built over the years.
“This community gave me a lot,” Choi said. “I wanted to rebrand and invest back into this so that I could provide something better.”
The biggest changes will be through the menu.
According to Choi, SOKO Tea will focus exclusively on handcrafted beverages, removing food items such as fried chicken and waffles to place a greater emphasis on tea. The shop will begin using fresh tea and milk while introducing Korean, Chinese and American influences throughout the menu, reflecting Choi’s own background and identity.
“I wanted to make something healthier and also something better within a good price range,” Choi said.
Beyond the menu, customers can also expect a refreshed look inside the shop.
While much of the business is changing, Choi said one thing he wanted to preserve was the team that Frosty Fox already built.
“I’m actually glad that everyone’s coming back… unless they graduated or moved away from Corvallis”, Choi said. “Some of our regulars come here for that community.”
Choi hopes to reopen the business around mid-September— in time to welcome students back for fall term.
While Corvallis is only the beginning, Choi said he hopes to one day expand SOKO Tea beyond the city.