Business & Tech
Mind Behind IKEA Branding to Open Lake View Wine Shop
The new business will renovate the gutted space to become Winehouse, a high-end store only selling wines and wine-related accessories. And one of the partners behind the store is responsible for branding Illinois' two IKEA stores.
Specialty wine shop Winehouse is headed to East Lake View, and the local owners say they plan to be the experts on fine wines in their newly renovated space.
Formerly home to Superior Eye Care, the building’s landlord gutted the highly trafficked storefront at 3164 N. Broadway after their departure. Now Lake View native Gary Stephens and his partners plan to completely renovate the 1,400-square-foot space with hopes to open in early September.
“Our plan is to open an upscale wine shop,” Stephens said. “We think it’ll enhance the neighborhood. The idea is a service-oriented wine shop where people can come in and learn about wine, get pairing advice and have a pleasant experience buying wine a relatively small store.”
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Winehouse will exclusively sell fine wines and high-end fortified wines with no plans to sell any liquor or beer. Business partner Steve Greenburg—whose claim to fame is branding Illinois two IKEA stores—says he’ll bring something new to set Winehouse apart.
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“I actually came to Chicago through IKEA where I built their stores in Schaumburg and Bolingbrook and was responsible for everything you see with your eyes,” Greenburg said. “So in terms of marketing, retailing, branding…
“When it comes to (wine stores), all the accessories get left behind, (like corkscrews and decanters), and we really want to make it as a part of the marketing,” Greenburg continued. “We also want to make it affordable, so we’re not talking about having Dom Pérignon at $200 a bottle.”
Greenburg said the store will have plenty of wines for less than $25 a bottle, with price points reaching $125 for more expensive wines. Premium wines will start at $50.
In addition to the selection, Winehouse will have trained wine staff, a wine club, guest speakers and in-house tastings. They’ll join Boystown’s new Paired Wine Co., another specialty wine shop on North Halsted.
Winehouse will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
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