The Downtown location of Winans opened quietly last week, serving up their usual handmade chocolates and small batch coffees along with a new menu item: wine. It’s one of several differences from the store in German Village, also owned by local Winans franchiser Monica Thomas.
Serving a new neighborhood required some tweaks, but Thomas said the new store at the Columbus Commons brings a familiar quality and experience to the Downtown neighborhood, where she hopes Winans can integrate with the constantly growing and changing dynamic.
“I was a customer for four years before I even bought the franchise,” Thomas said. “With any business plan you have to start with a great product, and I truly believed that Winans had the best coffee around, the best chocolate.”
“And though we’re not going to try to be experts in wine,” she added, “we want to create the best kind of experience when you come into Winans, so, being able to come in and enjoy a glass of wine and great chocolate or great coffee — whichever you choose.”
The coffee bar and case of chocolates are right inside the entrance, just beyond the displays of pre-packaged products.
With double the space of the German Village Winans, the wine bar tucks in neatly on the south end of the building, sitting among the shelves of wine labeled by country. Soft chairs and a coffee table, as well as a large hightop provide gathering areas, while smaller two-tops line the wall of windows looking out to the patio.
They’re still in their soft opening — staff is still training and the business is still adjusting to the addition of wine to their offerings. Thomas said they’ll celebrate a grand opening at the beginning of August, but they’ll still operate during their normal hours until then.
Winans will be open Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information, visit winanschocolatescoffees.com.
