It's all coming full circle for Townshend's Tea Company founder Matt Thomas '02.

It was just a little more than a decade ago that Thomas developed the idea for Townshend's Teahouse in a Lundquist College management course. In 2006, he opened Townshend's Alberta Street Teahouse in Portland. Next came a branch in Bend, followed by two more Portland locations.

Along the way, Thomas found time to launch Brew Dr. Kombucha—providing flavored versions of the fizzy, tea-based beverage in bottles or on tap.

This spring, the tea mogul will return to his roots, opening Eugene's first Townshend's Teahouse branch right next to the new Bijou Metro theater complex in the city's burgeoning downtown area.

"We are very excited to be opening up in this location," said Thomas.

The tea business has been good to Thomas. From 2011 to 2012, sales have grown by about 100 percent. “It's one of those more rare stories where something you actually did in college becomes your life's work," Thomas said in an article in The Register-Guard.

Matt, we're glad to have you back.