There's a change of ownership likely coming to Durham's Rue Cler.

Rue Cler was started and operated by longtime friends and Durham restaurateurs Chris Stinnett and John Vandergrift, trained chefs who also operated Pop's in Durham and started Pop's Back Door.

Vandergrift will be moving to Texas to be closer to his family and so a change was needed, Stinnett explained.

Stinnett will keep Pop's and the men are planning to sell Rue Cler to Vandergrift's older brother, Nathan Vandergrift, and Wes Rountree, partners in Cave Taureau, a wine store in downtown Durham.

In an email explaining the upcoming sale, Stinnett said, "Rue Cler will get a big boost on the wine side of things with these guys. We have had a blast doing everything we have done together and I look forward to concentrating on Pop's and making it the best it can be."

In a phone call Friday afternoon, Nathan Vandergrift said the deal is not completely finished but is most likely going to happen. He wants the public to know that his brother, John, will be staying on as a consultant at Rue Cler for several months as they transition to the new management and ownership.

Stinnett and Vandergrift had previously sold Pop's Backdoor to another operator.