by Lindsey Goodwin 

After nearly 12 years in operation in Charlotte, N.C., TEA ReX Teahouse closed retail operations on June 13, 2009.

Wayne Powers, proprietor of TEA ReX, said that when the tea room opened Nov. 15, 1997, there was nothing in the U.S. with a universal approach to tea. When TEA ReX closed, the menu ranged from whisked ceremonial-grade matcha to Southern sweet iced tea, and from Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls to a traditional German black tea blend called “Ostfriesentee.”

Powers said he broke through the “father-to-son, sexist system” early on to create strong relationships with international suppliers. Over the years, he added, he has faced supply challenges ranging from sub-par shipments to, more recently, finding the best value teas for his customers.

He sees the role of the tea purveyor as simple: “To do the job your customer cannot do, which is to select teas from the world marketplace, prepare them correctly and store them correctly.”

However, this job became increasingly difficult recently, due to rising rents and tea prices, and a sharp drop in walk-in traffic caused by transit changes and the decline of small, local businesses.

TEA ReX was a labor of love for Powers, who earned his living as a professional performer. He said owning a tea business is like pursuing an acting career: It has to be a passion, and if anyone can talk you out of it, then you shouldn’t do it.

TEA ReX was crammed with pieces of interest, like antique tea paraphernalia and a nine-foot origami tyrannosaurus rex. Powers said he wanted the interior design to force customers to interact with the staff and each other, adding that it was the only place in Charlotte where you could see a blue haired old lady sipping tea next to a blue-haired young man. Long-time customer Sandy Zeskind said he will miss the social forum TEA ReX provided over the years.

Powers will not be completely out of business. He’s expanding his Web site sales and continuing to wholesale teas to restaurants and museums.

“I have spent the last 12 years without Christmas,” he said. “I want to get some of my life back. I want to be able to evolve the company without the restrictions of having to babysit a retail location.”