Andres Kaifer and Alex Bridges, the minds behind Customshop and Marina’s Tapas, which recently opened at Optimist Hall, have a new concept in the works for the Charlotte market. They have plans to bring a wine bar and retail shop to a 1,200-square-foot space at The Courtyard shopping center at 2400 Park Road this fall, according to a release. The space was formerly home to Mere’s.
“This is a concept we have always wanted to do and dreamed of doing, and ultimately we were presented with the space, and we felt that given the size of the space and the area, it made sense to give this concept a go,” Kaifer told What Now Charlotte.
Customers can expect an extensive wine list, served by the glass and by the bottle, and a custom tap system at the yet-to-be-named wine bar. The team is aiming to create a welcoming, enjoyable atmosphere and plans to offer wine tastings.
“Opening a wine-focused spot has always been a dream and is what’s kept me in the business,” Bridges said in the release.“We look forward to working with small producers and importers because we care about the people making the wine and where it comes from. It’s also important for us to introduce people to regions and varietals they haven’t had and will love.”
The design will offer both indoor and patio seating. The interior will feature bar seating, a banquet and a large communal table. The bar will be light and have a casual atmosphere during the day, with an intimate bar experience at night.
In a phone interview with What Now Charlotte, Kaifer shared that the menu is still being finalized, but they plan to serve both lunch and dinner. Customers can expect rotating sandwiches and a cheese and charcuterie program. The dinner menu will feature food similar in style to Customshop, but the dishes will be more simplified.
Bridges has vast wine knowledge, which Kaifer says will come in handy as they move forward in preparing the concept. The two have been working together since they met at Vidrio in Raleigh in 2019 and decided to take over Customshop in Elizabeth.
“Alex becoming a partner at Customshop has led to what is now an amazing working relationship,” Kaifer said in the release. “We designed a concept where his expertise on wine will be the main event and the food menu can be a culinary playground not tied to any genre. At the end of the day, we’re creating a place we’d both want to hang out with friends on a free afternoon or night.”
Kaifer said they are still finalizing plans for the concept, and they expect to share more details in the coming weeks.
