A successful coffeehouse operator is taking over the space formerly occupied by Chapel Hill's 3Cups.

Owners Ann and Lex Alexander announced the closing of their wine, tea and coffee shop last month. (Go HERE to read our earlier blog post.)

But Dr. Stephen DeCherney, who owns a Market Street Coffee & Ice Cream in Chapel Hill's Meadowmont Village and the Bean Traders coffeehouse on Durham's Ninth Street, has taken over the former 3Cups location. The store will reopen as Market Street Coffee on Feb. 22, according to general manager Sara Owens.

Owens said the customers at the Meadowmont location were upset that 3Cups was closing and asked her and DeCherney to take over the space.

"It was the customers who made it happen," Owens said.

The new coffeehouse will no longer sell wine, instead focusing on coffee and tea. But Owens said they hoped to serve wine and beer by the glass once they get the proper permits.

And with Lex Alexander as an advisor, they plan to continue to sell gourmet food items, including North Carolina specialty products like jams and pickles, and high-end cocktail ingredients, such as bitters.

The location's hours will be 8 a.m.-7 p.m. but Owens said those may change. The location is 227 S. Elliott Rd., Chapel Hill.

Owens also noted that the company is in the process of changing the name of the Bean Traders Coffee shop on Ninth Street to Market Street Coffee. Owens said it will clear up any confusion between the locations that DeCherney owns and the location at Durham's Homestead Market operated by the original owners.

Chapel Hill's 3Cups will close on Feb. 2.

The coffee, wine and tea store was the work of entrepreneur Lex Alexander, former owner of the Triangle's Wellspring grocery stores that were bought by Whole Foods. Alexander was known for carefully selecting the products sold in his store, including loose leaf tea, freshly roasted coffee, wines from small family-owned wineries, chocolates and more.

Alexander opened 3Cups in 2005 in downtown Chapel Hill before a dispute with the landlord moved the store to its current location off Elliot Road.

Alexander and his wife, Ann, sent out notes Monday announcing the store's closing. "After much deliberation, we have decided that our 3 Cups business model is no longer financially sustainable," the email said.

On Tuesday, Ann Alexander added, "We had a passionate group of supporters -- there just weren't enough of them."

Lex Alexander, who once hoped to create multiple 3Cups stores, said he was sad to see the store's end: "I'm heartbroken about it."

Now that they have announced the store is closing, customers came in to say goodbye and shop.

"Yesterday, we had the biggest sales day we've ever had," Lex Alexander said.

To read a profile of Lex Alexander that ran in the News & Observer in 2010, go HERE.

Local food entreprenuer Lex Alexander, who owns 3Cups and used to own the Wellspring grocery stores, is giving a talk on this topic: The Essence of Eating Well.

The event is 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 29 at the UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont in Chapel Hill. The cost is $10. All proceeds will be donated to the Carrboro Farmer's Market. 

Alexander sold his Wellspring grocery stores to Whole Foods. For several years, he worked searching out new food products for Whole Foods stores. 

Call 966-5500 to reserve your spot. 

Click below for a flier about the event. 

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