LELAND — Bridgewater Wines has signed a lease to open a second location in Porters Neck next year.
After just over a year in business, the craft wine shop headed by experienced wine enthusiasts has gained a loyal local following in Leland.
Related: Bridgewater Wines eyes November opening date in Leland’s Ocean Gate Plaza
“We chose Leland initially because it was an underserved, fast-growing area,” co-owner Doug Zucker said. Zucker and his wife Susan hope to do the same with the Porters Neck location, where there aren’t many craft beer or wine stores for nearby residents to choose from.
Co-owner Susan Zucker said the Leland store would frequently get customers from across the bridge looking for specialty wines who urged the business to open a store in Porters Neck. “We don’t want to change too much from what we know works here. But we’re trying to do it on a bigger scale,” Doug Zucker said.
The new store will be located within a new 6,000 square foot commercial building Bridgewater Wines will split with an orthodontist. Planned on 178 Porters Neck Road behind Porters Neck shopping center with K38 Baja Grill, Port City Java, and other tenants, the new building will tentatively open in early 2021.
At the new location, Bridgewater Wines will be able to extend its service with outside seating, a feature not currently available at the Oceangate Plaza shop. The store’s footprint will also roughly double in size.
Bridgewater Wines is stocked with an international, handpicked selection of wine and local craft beer customers can buy to-go or enjoy in the store. Doug Zucker said there are a few staples that will always stick around, but the inventory is always rotating. “You always want to keep it fresh and have something new in the store. most people are looking to try what’s new.”
The menu features charcuterie, small plates, flatbreads, sandwiches, and salads. Game nights, trivia, live music, and free wine tastings at the store have helped cement Bridgewater Wines into a local go-to. Aside from a home and place of business, Susan Zucker said the store has become its customer’s third home.
“That’s what we’ve really created here. It’s everyone’s third home here. That’s what people consider this. Friendships have been formed here. People have reconnected here.” Susan Zucker.
A big part of the allure of the store is the ability to ask one of the Zuckers or their staff what wine to buy based on your preferences. The Zuckers plan to keep the same culture going at both stores by training new employees in Leland, with the owners splitting their time between both stores.
“We know what wines we have in here. We’ve tasted them. We can take any wine off the shelf and know we’re selling a good wine,” Susan Zucker said.
Keep up with Bridgewater Wines, which opened for its first night of dine-in service Wednesday, on Facebook or its website.
Send tips and comments to Johanna Ferebee Still at johanna@localvoicemedia.com
