Friend, partnering business saves Maryland Wine Bar in Berlin

Sometimes a bit of bad luck is all a business needs to really come into its own. As the Maryland Wine Bar prepares for is March 2 grand opening in its new location, it is clear how much better a place it already has become.

But the Maryland Wine Bar’s complete upgrade and transformation was never something in the cards for owners Deborah and Mike Everett. Instead, like many of these stories, it was the response to a crisis and the help of their friends that really gave them a vision for what their business could be.

When they opened the Maryland Wine Bar on Berlin’s historic Main Street six years ago, one of the truly baffling things was that it opened only a few doors down from and at about the same time as “Sisters” retail gift shop. The businesses were at 113 and 103 Main St., respectively.

Both places offered local wines and occasionally some snacks, both catered to the same demographic, both wanted to build a culture of wine enjoyment in a town that was a little beer-centric at the time.

Contrary to what many people thought would be a rivalry, a friendship grew between Donna Compher, owner of Sisters, and the Everetts.

“It’s just like any other time neighbors become friends,” Deborah said. “Over time you just get to know one another.”

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As the Maryland Wine Bar grew in popularity it did so in concert with, rather than in as a competitor to, Sisters.

For one thing, the Maryland Wine Bar emphasized the performing arts more emphatically than did Sisters, starting regular open mic nights, sponsoring small groups in concert and even occasionally bringing in karaoke.

Sisters remained bound a little more heavily to what might best be described as wine-assisted retail.

In fact, the pair of places collaborated in selecting a wine from Bourdeleau that they commissioned for their respective shops, “Main Street Vidal Blanc.” The wine is a sweeter one, so it has a broader appeal. Adding the Berlin tie-in gives it a little more gravity.

But late last year, when the Everetts found out they would be losing their lease, it looked as if they might be forced out of business.

The Maryland Wine Bar’s attraction was as much its downtown location as the rest of the bar’s ambiance. But Compher didn’t miss a beat. As soon as she heard they were being removed from the storefront they had operated in for so long, Compher proposed something of a merger.

She still had all the licenses they needed to continue operating, and she couldn’t see why the two businesses couldn’t continue to help one another out under the same roof.

The Maryland Wine Bar at Sisters was decided on nearly immediately.

“We were sad we would have to close, because we would miss all our friends,” Mike said. “Then Donna said, ‘I have a haven for you.’ ”

“I was crying and she cheered me right up,” Deborah added.

Six Years Worth of Improvements

When they originally opened, the Everetts were finding their way around by trial and error. The initial plan, for example, was that they would sell only Maryland wine and some beer, but Maryland wine turned out to be a little too niche to sustain a full-time business.

They eventually expanded to wines from all around the country but with a focus on Maryland vintages. They added more local beers, developing a relationship with local brewery Fin City and also the entertainment schedule that eventually would help define the place as a local hotspot.

Wine bars are kind of a natural gathering place for artists, which is why they thought moving into Sisters would be such a great fit. Sisters already had a bar area, so adding the Maryland Wine Bar approach would better define the difference between the wine part of the shop and the gift shop aspect.

Plus, the extra space really allows the maryland Wine Bar to emphasize itself as a gathering place for artists, poets and musicians.

More room for more connections

One of the greatest improvements the move provides the Maryland Wine Bar is that everything is in the same room. In the old space, the wine bar, which sat about six people, was essentially next door to the performance space. That meant during open mic nights and musical performances, people would have to leave the show room to refill their glasses.

The new space sits 40 people comfortably, all within sight of the night's performance. Plus, for people in the habit of dropping by, it offers more space to move around in.

During a recent soft opening event, Donna and Roger Cochran made it a point to get there first. They had been the first patrons of the Maryland Wine Bar when it originally opened, but their status as the first customers was purely coincidental that time.

This time, the Ocean Pines couple wanted to make the effort to be the first customers twice.

With the extra space, they’ve expanded some of their beer offerings to include bottles and cans, with Fin City still is almost always on tap. The emphasis, though, still is on the wine.

The Maryland Wine Bar serves dozens of different vintages and has an extensive list of by the glass wine. Customers of Sisters still are allowed and encouraged to have a glass of wine while they browse, so the drinking/shopping symbiosis remains in place.

As does the friendship of all involved.

“We’re just so thankful that Donna was, like, ‘Let the Maryland Wine Bar live on here at Sisters,’ ” Deborah said.

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