Like Fine Wine

The Vine, a wine and tapas bar at the corner of North Third and Princess streets, isn’t new to Wilmington, but with new owners at the helm, the eatery now feels like a fresh option in downtown’s thriving restaurant scene.

CARRIE AND JASON NILOFF recently took the reins after hunting for a business opportunity that would allow the couple to get creative and make their own mark. “Since moving to Wilmington, Jason and I have wanted to have our own business,” Carrie Niloff says. “We began looking into franchises believing that was the route we wanted to take. However, we ultimately felt franchises would be limiting creatively and organizationally.” The couple discovered The Vine in a process that Carrie Niloff described as somewhat serendipitous. “In a way, it found us,” she says. “Once we heard this was on the market, we did a 180 in terms of our mindset.”

Carrie Niloff spent a month in the restaurant, working alongside the previous owners before the sale closed earlier this year. This is the first time the couple has owned a restaurant, so this early introduction to the business helped the couple strategize how they wanted to make The Vine their own. “We both approached this humbly, knowing we had a lot to learn, but we are both hard working and had a few goals in mind we felt would help this particular bar/restaurant succeed,” says Carrie Niloff.

Once the Niloffs became the official owners this past spring, they got to work. One of their first tasks was renovating the restaurant, creating a more modern atmosphere inside the historic downtown space. “The renovations to the space have gone fabulously,” says Carrie Niloff. “The bones of the building are the same, but with the new paint color, the arched windows and rounded wooden-barrel ceilings stand out even more than before. We chose new lighting fixtures and furniture and have completely updated the bathroom and much of the back of the bar. Our lounge area was updated with a permanent wall with a TV and fireplace to provide a more secluded space to enjoy with friends.”

In addition to aesthetic changes, The Niloffs have expanded the menu at The Vine. Patrons can now enjoy a full bar of options alongside the restaurant’s selection of wines. “Being able to provide other drinks besides wine has been helpful in keeping all of our guests happy,” Carrie Niloff says. “We have 34 different types of bourbon, four set bourbon flights, and several options for vodka, gin and tequila.” Wine is still a top draw, she adds, with nearly 50 choices by the glass and a growing bottle list with as many options.

The Vine still offers a selection of tapas, charcuterie, and flatbreads, a feature that Niloff says is not as well-known as the restaurant’s drink offerings. “As far as our food menu, I think a lot of locals do not realize we have as much to offer as we do,” she says, noting that new flatbreads and small plates have been making an appearance on the menu in recent months. The couple plan to add seasonal items to the restaurant’s repertoire, which now includes monthly food and wine pairings that have proved so popular they often sell out.

As the primary owner/operator of The Vine, Carrie Niloff spends much of her time overseeing the business’s success — and she describes her new line of work as satisfyingly challenging. “Being a part of the energy downtown and to know we are contributing to that is gratifying,” she says. “It makes the long days and hard work rewarding.”

To view more of photographer Terah Hoobler’s work, go to terahhoobler.com.

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