Billy Corgan to Open Tea House in Chicago's Highland Park Neighborhood

Billy Corgan is scheduled to open a tea house in Highland Park.

Eric Charbonneau/WireImage

Billy Corgan is getting into the foodie game.

The Smashing Pumpkins frontman recently opened up to Eater about his plans to launch a 1930s Chinese-style tea house in Chicago's upscale Highland Park neighborhood. He hopes to open the still-unnamed salon in March or April 2012 and has already signed the lease, and has begun planning a modest menu of exotic teas, vegan sweets and coffee.

"It has a whimsical feel to it... It'll feel like you're stepping back in time in terms of space, but what we put into the space will change," Corgan said. "My dream number is changing it 15 to 20 times a month where you're inviting people to talk about film or have an open mic night."

However, if patrons swing by the tea house to see the owner, Corgan doesn't sound accommodating. "If people come in to stalk me I won't hang out because I don't want to disrupt the customers," he says.

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