Marian Caso has been dreaming about and planning to open a tearoom for many years.

In her "California days," she worked every position in a tearoom and vowed some day to take her labor of love to the level of owner and manager. Thanks to the years of preparation, the village's latest addition brings the tradition and elegance of a proper tearoom to the Sandhills.

Lady Bedford's Tea Parlour and Gift Shoppe celebrated its grand opening Oct. 14.

Lady Bedford's is centrally located in the village. It is proving to be a favorite spot for those seeking quiet relaxation with a lunch or an elegant afternoon tea with friends.

The Tea Parlour is fashioned to create the feel of an elegant Victorian dining room and parlour. The rooms are appointed with lovely antiques, linen covered tables, fine china and flowers with paintings and prints by local award-winning artist Susan Edquist.

Lady Bedford's offers more than 30 different loose-leaf teas. Complementing a wide variety of teas, Executive Chef Robert Yarter has assembled an array of soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. His specialties are pastries and custom cakes.

Caso attributes her success to her carefully developed business plan. She worked closely with Marilyn Neely, director of the Small Business Center at Sandhills Community College, and Willy Campbell, a counselor with the local Sandhills SCORE Chapter.

"They are my super-stars," Caso said of her team. "Every step of the way, their counsel has been extremely important and has been a major factor in Lady Bedford's success. It was an honor and privilege for me to have them as my official ribbon cutters at the grand opening."