Coffee Shop Set to Open Off Airport Rd.

That Coffee Place, located at 1225 Airport Road at the corner of Homestead Road, will have an "upscale look that will meet the high standards of Chapel Hill," said owner and manager Robert Owens.

The new business will open Jan. 13, two months later than originally projected, because of heavy rain that delayed site work.

The coffee shop will be one of four future businesses in "The Station at Homestead." Chapel Hill Wine Company, slated to open before the end of the year, will sell wine by the bottle. A dry cleaning store is scheduled to be up and running by late March. The fourth business has not been determined yet.

"It will be a good revitalization for the area and a substantial improvement over what was there," said Aaron Nelson, executive director of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce. "It will be a great addition to the area; before, it was a run-down piece of property."

The site has been vacant since it was occupied last by a gas station in 1969.

Nelson also said the building's location is advantageous and will not suffer from being removed from downtown Chapel Hill. "I think it's a great location," he said. "If you are coming in from the northern part (of town), the only place to get coffee is a gas station."

Danny Jones, owner and developer of the complex, echoed these sentiments. "The north side of town is really growing," he said.

Owens said the menu will have three areas of focus -- traditional Italian espresso, American coffee drinks and non-coffee drinks such as steamers and hot chocolate. Various pastries and other food from several local suppliers also will be offered.

But it is not the food or its cost that will make this coffee shop unique, Owens said. The new manager said he is aiming for a higher level of service.

Prior to 10 a.m., the shop will be more commuter oriented, focusing on menu items that are "satisfying and executed rather quickly," Owens said. Later in the day and on weekends, the business will become more community oriented and concentrated on in-store offerings for customers who are not on the go.

Owens added that there never will be fewer than two people on staff at a time, and four or five people will be behind the counter during the morning rush.

The hours at That Coffee Place will be 6:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m on weekends.

Owens said the atmosphere also will aid in setting That Coffee Place apart from its competitors. "It's going to be very open and bright and airy and done in earth tones," he said.

Owens said his goal is to expand eventually and to open more shop locations. "I would like to have somewhere between three to five of these open in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area in the next five years."

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.