New Haven Independent

The teahouse is Oolongs, the charming nook opened by Tammy Hackett (pictured) on Nov. 11, 2004. Hackett, 37, is a tea lover; she has offered as many as 90 different kinds of teas at a time. The most popular were the standards, like Earl Grey, English breakfast, black currant, cinammon spice. Hackett could also be counted on to introduce customers to a world’s worth of new varieties, including a host of Asian “oolongs,” semi-oxidized or semi-fermented teas from China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Hackett opened Oolongs on the historic walkway off Chapel Street, between High and College, known as Sherman’s Alley. Some ventures, such as Roomba, have thrived there. But when Hackett serves her last steaming pot to the public on Dec. 24, she’ll be the second smaller business to close this season, following in the footsteps of a clothing store on the block.

Oolongs made for a great out-of-the-way yet centrally located meeting place. But it never made money; staying open came to look like “financial suicide,” Hackett said. She attributed the teahouse’s woes to a combination of too-small quarters and low visibility. She spoke about it the other day as she poured herself a pot and “Cowboy Jim,” a customer-turnedwaiter (“It’s like a better version of Cheers”) served a pot of peony tea to regular Daniel J. Crowley, a beat poet who sells his books there. Click here to watch Hackett describe what happened. And stop in a for a last cup, and best wishes.

A third shop, Rainbow Cafe, closed around the corner. Click here to read a Yale Daily article in which the shops’ landlord — Yale — addresses the trend.