Serene Teaz in Wheaton to close its doors in February

WHEATON – After maintaining a presence in downtown Wheaton for more than 12 years, Serene Teaz is set to close its doors in February.

Glen Ellyn residents Bob and Sarine Crotteau, who own Serene Teaz at 221 W. Front St. in downtown Wheaton, are planning to close the store Feb. 11. However, they will continue to sell their products online.

"We've been talking about it actually over a year," Bob Crotteau said. "There's been a decline in foot traffic... It started making less financial sense to keep it going."

The store started out on Hale Street before moving to its current location. The couple in the last year has been making it easier for customers to order the store's products online.

"We started increasing our website technology," he said. "We completely revamped the whole website."

Serene Teaz has many longtime customers who have been coming to the store since it first opened.

"We are kind of the 'Cheers' of tea," Sarine Crotteau said. "People have their cups with their names on them. So when they come, they get that same cup all the time."

Bill and Julie Bacon of Elmhurst are longtime customers. The couple started coming to Serene Teaz when it had operated a store in Elmhurst.

"Nowadays, we come at least once a week or sometimes twice a week," Julie Bacon said. "She [Sarine Crotteau] educates you about the teas."

They said they will miss coming to the store and hanging out with fellow tea lovers.

Serene Teaz is known for its wide variety of teas. The store sells about 120 teas, including many hand-blended teas.

"Our customers tell us things they like, and we try to come up with something that fits their needs," Sarine Crotteau said. "We do special blends for people too and will continue to do that."

The couple has seen the popularity of tea soar in the past few years.

"It's a growing industry," she said. "People don't want to be drinking coffee any more. Tea is healthier than coffee. It's loaded with antioxidants."

Sarine Crotteau said she will miss the face-to-face interaction with her customers.

"We have wonderful customers," she said. "It's been an amazing 12 years. I can definitely look back and say that I am glad I did it, and I am very proud of how it all turned out."