Tea at Seven Springs and the Powder Springs Coffee and Bake Shoppe will be temporarily closed starting Jan. 1.

"Since we first opened (Tea at Seven Springs) in 2004, we have not taken time off for vacation, holidays or even for inventory and restocking," co-owner Joan Evans wrote in an email to customers. 

"Over the past year, my parents have both been battling serious illnesses, and we have been trying to maintain the businesses while trying to care for and spend as much time with them as possible. In addition, the lagging economy has placed a strain on the finances of both businesses."

The coffee shop opened in February, with Patch being the business's first customer. Evans and her husband, Larry, own the building that houses both of their businesses. 

Like all places in historic downtown Powder Springs, the building has many stories to tell. A car went crashing through its giant window in the 1978 comedy They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way. That same window was a garage door used by the Powder Springs Push Rods, which called the building home when it formed in 1955.

Joan Evans said Tea at Seven Springs has been "blessed to be a part of celebrating the special moments in the lives of women—and a few men—of Powder Springs and the surrounding areas.

"This has been a place for wedding showers, baby showers, Red Hatters, Bible studies, birthday parties and Christmas gatherings. People have come from all over to visit and enjoy our scones, specialty teas, peach tea and even our famous CC soup."

With Tea at Seven Springs generally geared toward women, the coffee shop was created to be more welcoming of the whole community, Evans said.

"We have been able to remain open through the support of our staff, children, grandchildren, and our customers," she said. 

Evans said she and her husband will use the time to restructure, "refresh our body, mind and spirit, renew our vision and possibly remodel the buildings a bit, too—or at least redecorate.

"As all of you know, Larry and I have a very strong faith in God. Tea At Seven Springs has been open for the last seven years because of God and the plan He allowed us to be a part of. I know that God has an even greater plan, so we are looking to Him for our direction next."

Evans said she will provide updates via email and Facebook.