The Vine-Wine Bar Readies for a May Opening

The Vine-Wine Bar, located at 2259 Merrick Road, is scheduled to open sometime in May, and already local area wine lovers are eagerly anticipating its debut.

Lynn Mione, 38, co-owner of The Vine-Wine Bar says, "We have people coming in while we're still under construction, asking when we'll be open."

Mione is also encouraged by responses she has received on The Vine-Wine Bar's Facebook page which was created just weeks ago and already has 160 fans, and is still growing.

Before this new venture, Mione was director of retail for Levis, responsible for its 90 stores. She quit her high-powered job last August.

"I got tired of all the travel, living out of hotels, not seeing my family and friends," she says. 

After leaving her position she reflected on what to do next --"I needed a job, and wanted to do something I could identify with, and enjoy with friends. I realized that there really aren't many places for people my age to meet nearby to simply enjoy a glass a wine and a night out."

According to Mione, "When I used to travel I would often find myself at comfortable and sophisticated wine bars.  There's nothing like that locally."

Mione added:  "On Long Island, people my age wind up going to the North Shore or NYC.  I think it's important to have a nice upscale place to hang out in one's own neighborhood."  

Mione and her business partner Steven Lanciotti, 44, grew up in North Bellmore and graduated from Mepham High School.

"Coming from the Bellmore-Merrick area we have lots of friends and relatives here," Mione says. 

It seemed natural for the budding entrepreneurs to choose the area as its home for The Vine-Wine Bar.

"We are going to cater to local friends quite a bit," Mione says.  "We plan to have different events, educational tastings, and fundraising events. We want to try to be a part of the neighborhood we grew up in."

With the drywall up and floors and finishes still to be laid, Mione recently took Patch on a "preview" of the lounge:  

Along the far wall when you enter will be the bar area where you'll find the wine racks and a cruvinet, a special temperature controlled wine preservation system necessary for fine wines.  Also at the bar will be a selection of imported beers, as well as an expresso machine.

At the front window area, there will be small intimate table settings.  Along the long wall to the right as you enter will be a cozy lounge area with couch like seating.  Beyond the bar as you walk towards the back will be a private tasting room.  This special area will provide an intimate candlelit setting for VIP bottle services, and private parties. 

In addition to the tasting room, other parts of the lounge or the entire bar can be rented for private parties.  Mione says that she already has three bookings for private events.

The Vine-Wine Bar will carry 75 different varieties of wine available for purchase by the glass and bottle. There will also be a tapas-like menu of appetizers, finger foods and desserts, all appropriate for wine pairing.

Mione stresses that she and her partner want to create a very local business.  They are taking everything into consideration, from hiring local builders like KENCO for construction, to employing local residents. The bar will also feature Long Island and NY State wines, along with varieties from California, Germany, Italy, France, South America and more.   

When asked about resident concerns about noise/late night alcohol consumption at the bar Mione responds: "I can understand the concerns. Having grown up locally, I consider myself a neighbor. I know what I'm creating. It's going to be an upscale place for adults. We'll be a place where you'll be listening to soft music in a candlelit environment.  It'll be different from a bar or pub.  Our clientele will be adults well beyond the days of club-going and late-night partying.  We hope to be a sophisticated, yet unpretentious neighborhood lounge, where locals can bring a date or just go to reconnect with friends."