Horchata and bubble tea is not a typical combination at a boba tea shop. Emanuel Sauz is trying to change that.
Sauz took over Boba Go, a shop at 9938 Riverside Parkway, in October.
He connected with the former owners, a Hmong family, via Facebook. It wasn’t planned, but Sauz took the plunge.
“I found out that they wanted to let go of the business and I was just seeking opportunities,” he said.
Infusing Hispanic flavors
Boba Go is taking on a new twist in this next chapter. Sauz added in new boba choices to include some Hispanic touches.
The menu includes a tres leches matcha drink, horchata latte drink and an horchata latte slush.
Those are the most unique drinks on the menu, Sauz said. He wanted to share and educate people on the stuff he grew up on.
People have driven 20 minutes to try out the items, especially the tres leches matcha-flavored drink, Sauz said.
Boba Go, 9938 Riverside Parkway, offers a variety of drinks and snacks. Credit: Tim Landes / Tulsa Flyer 
Boba Go, 9938 Riverside Parkway, offers a variety of drinks and snacks. Credit: Tim Landes / Tulsa Flyer 
Boba Go, 9938 Riverside Parkway, offers a variety of drinks and snacks. Credit: Tim Landes / Tulsa Flyer
A one-man shop — with family support
It’s been a learning process since this is his first customer-based business, he said. Sauz took over his brother’s car detailing business in 2020 after his brother died.
“I didn’t want to go back to work at the time,” he said. “We were both working at QuikTrip. I had just got the idea to just start getting his equipment. That’s what he wanted to do.”
Now, Sauz runs the Boba Go shop, while figuring out who can take over the detailing business. His family, including his younger brother, help him with both.
Taking over a small business comes with a lot of learning, he said. Right now, it’s figuring out how to increase traffic to the business — including through unique social media promotions — and how to manage it.
‘A lot to come’
Sauz has tried to make the shop a family-friendly environment.
There’s a giant Connect Four game for people to play off to the left of the entrance, a space stacked with board games for families to play with and a giant coloring page for children to color on while waiting for their drinks.
He’s considering hosting a summer event at some point. The shop also used to offer more food options — something Sauz says they might add back in over time.
“There’s still a lot to come,” he said.
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