All Up In Your Business, Feb. 21

All Up In Your Business is part of a periodical update on local businesses in the Chapel Hill area. This week includes Carolina Brewery, Top This!, and Pita Pit.

3 Cups bought by Market Street Coffee

Long-time customers of 3 Cups on South Elliot Road might find some comfort after losing their favorite coffee spot.

The coffee shop will reopen as Market Street Coffeehouse on Friday after being bought by Market Street Coffee.

When owners of 3 Cups announced the closing on Jan. 21, customers voiced their concern to the Market Street Coffee and Ice Cream at Homestead Road.

Sara Owens, who helps operate Market Street, said the decision was made to acquire 3 Cups because the coffee houses shared a customer base.

“The customers said, ‘We’ve got to do something and save it,’” Owens said. “So we started to talk to the owner of 3 Cups and thought it’d be a nice reincarnation of the place.”

Owens said the feel of 3 Cups will be maintained, though beer and wine might be added to the menu.

“The main difference is that it’s not going to be a wine shop and focus more on coffee and tea,” she said.

Vinny’s replaces Carmine’s at Eastgate

Pizza lovers can breathe a sigh of relief after a new pizzeria replaces Carmine’s Ristorante & Pizzeria in The Shops at Eastgate later this month.

Vinny’s Italian Grill and Pizzeria will open on Monday, said Josephine Finazzo, a partner in the restaurant.

Vinny’s is an Italian restaurant chain with locations primarily in Virginia. There is also a location in Hillsborough.

“We’ve been looking into Chapel Hill a little bit, and we saw an opportunity to open in Eastgate,” said Finazzo.

Finazzo’s family members are partners in Pomodoro Italian Kitchen in Durham and Mebane and Il Bacio Italian Grill & Pizza in Wake Forest.

The restaurant’s menu will be the same as its Hillsborough counterpart — offering pizza, calzones, baked pasta and a gluten free menu.

“We’re hoping to get a lot of families since this is a family restaurant,” Finazzo said.

UNC students and employees will be able to get a 10 percent discount with their IDs.

A new business incubator

Another business incubator set up shop in Chapel Hill and is looking to take small businesses to the next level.

EntreDot, which features the slogan “helping entrepreneurs connect the dots,” opened its doors at 1 Bolin Heights on Feb. 7.

Director of Western Operations Brad Gibson said EntreDot is unique because it connects entrepreneurs with its network of professional mentors.

“The goal for this year is to establish our presence, establish strong working relationships with community leaders and reach out to and mentor at least 50 entrepreneurs in this area,” said co-founder Bill Warner.

The incubator has about 200 volunteer mentors serving its three locations, with centers in Raleigh and Cary.

Right Brain Branding Consultants CEO Tim Pedersen said he is excited to work with EntreDot.

“I’ve always believed in using a coach,” Pedersen said. “The comparison can be made to an Olympic or professional athlete who always has a coach by their side to give them a different perspective.”