Ashley Hunt plans to merge two of her loves — wine and music — into one concept at her forthcoming venture, Songbirds Wine Bar. Hunt told What Now Charlotte that she expects to open the spot in late September or mid-October at 230 E W.T. Harris Blvd, Suite C-10, in McCullough Commons.
Hunt drew inspiration for the concept from her childhood nickname, Songbird.
“It was something that stuck with me because I do music as well, and I was always going around singing,” Hunt said. “I realized throughout my time in a lot of other jobs that I’ve worked that I want to have something of my own.”
For Hunt, wine has been a way to spur community and togetherness among her friends, so she wanted to use it as a basis for her own venture.
She initially planned to open Songbirds at a location in Concord, a project she started working on over a year ago. However, as they began renovating that space, she and her team realized that it did not fit with their needs for the wine bar.
“It was my baby at the time, and I just had to realize that it wasn’t going to work, and as soon as we made that decision and moved our things out, I received a call back from the initial location I wanted Songbirds to be in over a year ago,” Hunt said. “So things worked out, even though it wasn’t on my timing.”
The pivot resulted in Hunt landing the University City location. The 3,500-square-foot space will have a “very warm feel,” with plans for booths and comfortable seating areas. Customers can expect live music one or two times a week featuring a variety of genres, and Hunt plans to host popular local DJs at Songbirds, as well.
The menu is still in the works, but Hunt shared that she plans to partner with a local business to craft the food menu. For the wine list, expect to see an emphasis on Black-owned and local brands.
The space is designed to be a spot for burgeoning artists looking to share their voices in the community. A Season 20 American Idol alum, Hunt is familiar with the music industry and wants to serve as a resource for other independent artists looking to find their place in the music world.
“I’m an independent artist, so I’ve been doing music for as long as I can remember and have seen a lot of different things throughout the industry,” Hunt said. “I’m most excited about bringing other independent artists to showcase their talent and showcase who they are to the community.”
