Florida’s First Teso Life in Orlando

Since the announcement that we were finally getting an HMart, I’ve been vocal (and too excited to check my grammar) in my hopes that we would continue to see more Asian brands come to the City Beautiful. On every trip to Atlanta, I venture to Duluth to get my fix of shops like Kinokuniya, Tokyo Kuma, Ebisu, and of course, Teso Life. On my first trip to Teso Life, it was still relatively new and packed with people, but despite the overstimulation and excitement, it was worth the adventure, and the long lines moved quickly. Currently, Florida has no Teso Life locations, so it’s a big deal for Orlando to be the first. It’s a shop you need to take your time in, as you go up and down the aisles looking at what feels like endless amounts of product.

If you aren’t familiar with the brand, here’s a rundown of what to expect, the store layout, and a sneak peek inside.

Where is Teso Life located?

7174 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32818 - the intersection is Hiawassee and W. Colonial. The hours will be Monday - Sunday, 11:00 AM-9:00 PM

What is Teso Life?

TESO Life is a dynamic Asian lifestyle department store dedicated to elevating everyday living. More than just a store, it serves as a cultural hub that blends Asian traditions, modern trends, and lifestyle inspiration. That’s how they describe it. I describe it as a huge store filled with treats and very logical, necessary items. You can go here just for fun and buy items that will undoubtedly give you an instant serotonin boost, like a Hello Kitty eraser or a Kirby-branded face mask, but if you are a more practical shopper, you will find items here as well. On my trip, I purchased a Pantasy brand Snoopy Espresso Machine ($30) to put together, so obviously, I opted for a treat on my first Orlando Teso Life visit. But the options and variety will suit everyone’s needs and wants.

Is it like other Asian lifestyle stores?

There are some similarities, but neither shop comes close to the “super store” feel of Teso Life.

What can I expect when walking into Orlando’s first Teso Life?

When you enter through the main entrance, you will see the toys/collectibles wall directly to your right. Directly across from that wall, you will see some of the snacks and drinks. Those continue to the back of the store, where you will find freezers and fridge space for cold items—household and beauty items on the far left wall.

Continue to the back right corner, and that is where you will find the small claw arcade, a staple of every Teso Life.

Beauty and skincare are at opposite sides of the store, lining the front left wall. Everything from makeup, skincare, and hair care will be in that area. Homewares and kitchenware are around the back left aisles, and in the middle, you will find stationery and some dry goods.

Depending on what you want to head towards first, that is the layout.

Is this just another shop to buy snacks and toys?

There is an excellent selection of snacks, drinks, and food, but what makes Teso Life exciting to many is the skincare and beauty selection. These brands are mostly Japanese (which is part of Teso Life’s appeal) and often harder to find in regular US stores. You can expect to see popular brands like DHC (Beauty/skincare), Medicube (skincare), Canmake, Heroine Make, K‑Palette (makeup), Sana (Makeup / Brow tools), Yanagiya (Hair-care / tonic), to name a few.

Also available on multiple aisles are fun stationary tools, and if you love character themed items they have plenty.

There is also homewares, cleaning products, organizational tools, items for babies, kitchenware, car accessories, and much more. You can browse the Teso Life website before you go to get an idea of items you may be interested in.

How is the pricing?

Because there is such a variety of items, prices will vary. The best way to get an idea of pricing for items you may be interested in is to visit the Teso Life website. However, it should be noted that this is not a discount store.

What is parking like?

This location is in a large shopping center, so once the excitement and lines die down, parking will be no issue. But on the Grand Opening weekend, it may get harder, as there are other shops in this plaza.

When is the Grand Opening?

On Saturday, November 15th, there will be grand-opening gift-with-purchase deals that weekend.

I was not compensated in any form (payment or store credit) to make this post. I was invited to view the store before opening and post what I wanted to share.