Greenville’s beloved wine bar, Wine House, has turned a bittersweet closure into growth. The original Haywood Road location shut its doors on September 26, but owners Nathan Luginbill and Nolan Merritt kept their core staff and opened two new spaces: Wine House at Hartness and Wine House on Main in the Daniel Building.
From Haywood to Hartness
The Haywood Road spot was built on word‑of‑mouth referrals and served as a destination for wine lovers, but limited foot traffic prompted the partners to look elsewhere. When the lease ended, they had already committed to a downtown presence, so the decision was made to focus on the new locations.
“Closing Haywood… the amount of love and support we received was incredible,” said Merritt. The new Hartness location, at 3000 Society Street, opened on September 1. It features a casual, laid‑back atmosphere, a wine wall, local artwork, and a small retail component. Luginbill emphasized that the space is meant to be welcoming, not pretentious: “Wine can get pretentious sometimes, which I despise. We don’t care what wines you know—you’re always welcome.”
Main Street adds a coffee bar
The second venue, Wine House on Main, opened on October 7 at 301 N. Main Street inside the Daniel Building. In addition to the wine bar, the space includes a coffee bar called Coffee by Wine House, a requirement of the lease that the owners turned into an opportunity.
To develop the coffee program, Luginbill and Merritt brought in Arin Gilbert of Canvas Coffee + Art House as a consultant and roaster. Gilbert began consulting in July and continued through September. “I’m really proud of what we worked on together,” he said. Coffee by Wine House opened to the public on September 21.
First impressions
During a recent visit, the author sampled the seasonal salted maple latte, an iced decaf cortado, noting its sweet‑buttery warmth despite the chill of autumn. The coffee and wine bar occupies the lobby of the Daniel Building, with two golden archways, shelves, and mercury‑glass mirrors greeting patrons as they enter.
Both locations retain the friendly, community‑focused vibe that made the original bar a neighborhood favorite. By keeping the original staff and expanding into downtown Greenville, Wine House aims to serve more residents and visitors while preserving the personal touch that long‑time guests appreciate.
Local business context
Wine House’s expansion reflects a broader trend of Greenville entrepreneurs investing in downtown revitalization. New dining and retail concepts are helping to draw foot traffic to the city’s historic core, supporting local artists and creating jobs. The owners’ decision to stay in Greenville underscores confidence in the city’s economic outlook and its appeal to both residents and tourists.
For those interested in trying the new spaces, Wine House at Hartness is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Wine House on Main welcomes guests from 8 a.m. for coffee through 10 p.m. for wine service. Both locations continue to welcome wine enthusiasts of all knowledge levels, reinforcing the bar’s mission to be an inclusive gathering place for the community.
Original reporting: Greenville Journal — read the source article.
