Just over a year ago, Glencoe resident Jason Walsh had friends over for New Year’s Eve when an idea struck him.
“I said to everyone at my dinner party, ‘Let’s open a wine bar,'” he said.
That brainstorm is now a reality. Earlier this month, Walsh and eight co-owners opened the Tudor Wine Bar at 338 Tudor Court, across the street from the Writers Theatre, with bar proprietors hoping it will become a post-production destination for theatregoers.
“It was a great opportunity because it was a great location,” Walsh said.
Walsh, a five-year Glencoe resident who works as an executive director at a Winnetka investment bank, believed Writers, along with the the compact nature of Glencoe’s downtown, would lure customers.
“We are the only village that has everything on one side of Green Bay Road,” Walsh said.
The doors opened in January to the 700-square-foot space, which features a full-length bar and several tables under copper lighting. All types of liquor are available, along with wines, which Walsh described as “interesting and reasonably priced.”
For those wanting a small bite of food to go with their drink, appetizers are served.
Sampling a red Malbec one recent night was Julie Rubin, a 16-year resident of Glencoe who was making her second trip to the establishment.
“I love that this is in my town,” Rubin said. “We need more places to go (to) that have a neighborhood feel, where we can get food and beverage.”
Walsh said he is satisfied with customer traffic in the first month, and he left open the idea of reconfiguring the 50-person seating area.
“People are gravitating toward more of a relaxed atmosphere, so we are going to tweak it a little more as we figure out what the client base wants,” Walsh said.
When warmer weather arrives, plans are in place to offer outdoor seating.
Walsh also talks of lobbying the village for special events on Tudor Court to heighten awareness of the bar as well as the entire area.
“I think Tudor Court is a little overlooked,” Walsh said.
The opening of Tudor comes a few months after the openings of four downtown retail shops plus the expansion of another store, according to village officials.
While vacancy signs are still apparent in prominent locations, particularly on Vernon, the village’s staff is encouraged with the current business climate.
“It appears as though there is a pattern of new businesses opening downtown following the grand opening of Writers Theatre,” said Nathan Parch, Glencoe’s planning and development administrator.
Walsh likes what he sees as well and hopes it is a good sign for his new establishment.
“During the day, you can’t find a parking spot,” he said. “So there is a lot happening.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
