A second edition of The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar will begin business at the waterfront later this year in Newport Beach, six years after the first at The District in Tustin that opened in 2007. Managing Partner JC Clow attributes the excited buzz and early anticipation to a strong brand identity and presence in the community.
Clow and his team waited to find the perfect location with ongoing research and careful consideration of the properties that presented themselves. “Our first was a brand new location that we built from the ground up. The Newport location will be a total remodel going down to the slab. So we are basically building a brand new restaurant there as well,” Clow reports.
The first Winery opened with a costly challenge. “The delayed construction of the District pushed us back 6 to 7 months past our projections,” Clow remembers. He and his team knew the risk involved in leaving secure corporate positions. “But once we did it, we never looked back!”
His best advice for anyone considering a second location is, “Focus on growing great first, rather than just focusing on growing big. Also, if you are truly not passionate about the first one then don’t open a second.”
The core menu of contemporary California regional cuisine by Executive Chef Yvon Goetz will be the same. “There may be slight differences with specials based on the clients’ preferences and chefs’ whim. Our guests are not shy about telling us their favorite items that they like to see on the menu!”
Research and learning occur on a daily basis for Clow and his staff. He also stresses, “We never want to sacrifice the quality of our product and we never want to let the passion die!”
The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar is part of our series highlighting restaurant groups and chains founded and flourishing in Orange County that were featured in the May|June 2013 print issue of Great Taste Magazine. Click here for the entire article.
