Sixteen years ago, Tom and Jeanie Trikilis were searching fruitlessly for a good place to take their daughter for her birthday parties. They had seen more than enough kids' birthday party places that they felt were sub-standard.

"They all smelled; you never got anything," Tom Trikilis said. "You basically threw your money away."

They saw a niche that they felt needed filling, thus Olivia's Doll House Tea Rooms were born, named after their daughter, who is now all grown up and working with them. Currently, there are nine locations, most of them in Southern California. The businesses are a fantasy tea room primarily for little girls, although they do host parties for grown ups, as well.

The tea rooms are all unique, designed by Tom Trikilis as a place where every little girl gets to feel like a princess. He uses collectibles and one-of-a-kind items in the decoration of the rooms. Although they have a very Victorian feel to them, there are modern touches, as well.

"They're all full of animation and interactive features," Tom Trikilis said. These include moving doll houses, animatronic dolls and interactive art that moves and plays an audio track when a child pushes its button.

The business is only open by appointment, and all parties are private. There's never a public address system blaring out birthday wishes to a half-dozen children. On a recent visit, a simple sign at the door said "Welcome Queen Morgan."

The Morgan in question was Morgan Mulak, whose parents were in town for a few weeks on business from Pennsylvania. She, her sister Marina and a few friends were treated to the usual care and celebration at the tea room.

Typically, the festivities begin in the dressing room, where the birthday girl and guests have hundreds of beautiful outfits to choose from. There are gowns and dresses and even a few fancy boy clothes, for the occasional boy, often a brother, who gets to come along. After they are dressed, guests get made up and they get their hair done by the tea room's hostess. Queen Morgan was quite pleased with the result.

"I look like Mia," said an amazed Morgan, referring to the character Anne Hathaway played in "The Princess Diaries" films.

From there, the party moves to the fashion show room, where each guest has her moment in the spotlight. This also is the moment in which a photo is taken of each participant, to be given to them at the end of the party.

The final stop on the tour is the tea room itself, where everyone sits around a heart-shaped glass table and enjoys sandwiches with the crusts removed and other delicacies. After everyone sings a birthday song to the guest of honor, desert plates are brought out, with not just cake, but an assortment of goodies including candy, cookies and cotton candy.

The parties start at around $300 for a party of eight and last about two hours.

Tom Trikilis said the tea rooms have proved popular and have become a fixture everywhere a location has opened.

"We've got parents who came here as children and are now bringing their own children," he said. "We've got a list of celebrity clientele as long as your arm."

The Las Vegas location opened six years ago at 3742 E. Tropicana Ave. Manager Molly Gilbert has been there most of that time.

"We're the biggest location in the company," Gilbert said. "And I think the best, but, of course, I'm biased."

The business owners aren't really concerned about the nation's current economic climate.

"It really doesn't affect us like it affects other places because it's a once-a-year celebration for a child," Tom Trikilis said. "Where other places are down 50 or 60 percent, we're down five. It's a great business."

It's a business they're happy to be involved in.

"We created a heaven for children where you could come in and get something for your money and get memories that will last a lifetime," Tom Trikilis said.

For more information about the company, visit www.oliviasdollhousetearoom.com.

Contact Sunrise and Whitney View reporter F. Andrew Taylor at ataylor@viewnews.com or 380-4532