3-Cups (Chapel Hill, NC) closing

[brokegradstudent]

According to their Facebook/website, they're closing permanently on 2 February.

It is a shame. For me, they were the best cup of coffee in CH/Durham by a mile. They'll be missed.

http://www.3cups.net/

[fussycouple]

Honestly, we went there for the wine. The coffee side of it never really clicked for us in any positive way, at either location. We bought maple syrup and chocolate and wine after they moved to the new location and Jay Murray went there, but the other part of the business failed to attract us.

However, the parking situation was definitely better at the mall than back at the courtyard, even in the day before the whole courtyard thing blew up. We'd much rather go to the newer location than the old one. If I have to search hard for a parking space before I have my coffee - well the odds of that happening twice aren't good.

[Rory]

I liked 3 Cups, but malls are not places I rountinely go to; Carrboro or Franklin St for me, so I never went once they moved. Kipos the new Greek restaurant where Penang used to be looks almost ready to open. And you can get coffee at Vimala's they now have a bar.

[LulusMom]

Full bar? woohoo!!!

[Rory]

yes wine (good wine!) beer and coffee it will be open until 11:00 I think, just check on that.

[LulusMom]

Weeeee! Thanks for the news Rory. And I'm fast asleep by 11, I'm afraid, so that closing time won't be a problem.

[mpjmph]

Good news, maybe... Scratch bakery just posted the following on Facebook:
"Our baked goods will continue to be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in Chapel Hill at 3CUPS, open under new ownership starting tomorrow!"

I can't find any other source for the news, but wanted to go ahead an share.

[burgeoningfoodie]

Scratch bakery is not doing anything with this from what I've read.

[cervisiam]

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/b...

[yahooer]

I'm sorry to see them go, too. I thought their wine selection was inspired - everything we tried was great.

[tamalesfordinner]

That is really really sad - but we never visited once they moved. We have three 3Cups shirts, LMom :-)

(is this yet another thing I can very belatedly blame that parking-lot-owning guy for? I remember the renovated heyday of The Courtyard, with Sandwhich and 3Cups and Locopops, and it all came to an end so quickly, it seemed.)

[LulusMom]

That parking lot owning guy has a LOT to answer for. Used to be able to walk Lulu to Locopops too, which makes it a lot more fun than doing the jump in the car thing. I really liked the little middle eastern place that was there for a short time too.

the only positive is that Penang is gone - at least from my point of view.

[tamalesfordinner]

We went to Penang one time, and one time only. They wouldn't ever bring us the check!

[mpjmph]

Same here. I went at least once a week when they were in the Courtyard until the parking situation blew up. Never made it to the new location after they moved.

[brentk]

The coffee business is a tough one - they had a longer run than most independents. That said, places like 3 Cups need to be in downtown Chapel Hill or Carrboro, not in a remote mall location.

[LulusMom]

Really sad. Back when Lulu was a baby they were walking distance from our house, and LulusDad would sometimes take her there so I could get a bit of sleep. His first ever father's day present was a 3 cups t-shirt. Shame they couldn't make it happen.