More room for whiskey, music and yes, brunch, coming to Lake Norman’s Bin110
Lake Norman, one of your favorite spots to try a new whiskey and listen to live music is expanding.
Andy Upchurch, who owns Bin110 in Cornelius with his wife, Tallie, said an expansion with the space next door will triple the occupancy of the bar, going from six tables inside to 15-20 tables. The renovation includes new bathrooms, along with an expanded kitchen and more space for entertainers.
Bin110 is still open for the time being, but will shut down for 4-6 weeks while contractors knock down the wall between the existing space and connect it to the one next door. That’s expected after Thanksgiving, and the Upchurches plan to reopen in January.
The space will go from 1,500 square feet to 2,500. There’s an additional 30-40 outdoor seats, although that’s not changing with the expansion.
“I wish I could go to sleep and wake up and it’s all done,” Upchurch said with a laugh.
Bin110 will add a bigger kitchen
Right now, Bin110 offers small bites, but with a bigger kitchen, it will open for brunch Saturday and Sunday, and offer other tasty food, including several varieties of flatbreads.
Since opening in November 2017, Bin110 has grown into one of the top upscale night spots in the Lake Norman area, with a focus on its breadth of beverage offerings — nearly 450 whiskies and 100 wines, almost all by the glass.
Bin110’s other focus is live entertainment, with 150 live acts a year performing a variety of listener favorites, including ‘80-’90s rock and country. Singers have included contestants from “The Voice,” “American Idol” and “America’s Got Talent,” with styles ranging from Matchbox 20 to Zac Brown to Jimmy Buffett.
“The talent here is crazy good,” Upchurch said. “We’ll have more space for the entertainers and be able to bring in fuller-sized bands. We’re adding a sound system to increase the quality and will put up acoustic panels so we can have great live music, but you’ll still be able to have a conversation.”
Before they opened Bin110, Andy Upchurch was a financial adviser for 30 years, and Tallie Upchurch worked in the pharmaceutical industry, although her degree is in hospitality. They’ve accomplished their goals — opening a spot that they themselves would love to patronize and offering a breadth of whiskies and wines.
“We always talked about opening a wine bar,” Upchurch said. “It’s a lot of work but very rewarding.”
Andy Upchurch is an executive bourbon steward, earning his certification in Louisville, Ky., and trains his staff in the way of whiskies.
“We’re most proud of our customer service,” Upchurch said. “I train the staff, and I’ve certified 300 people” as bourbon stewards.
The Upchurches love being able to offer unique tastings. (Follow Bin110 on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know.) They also travel with patrons to Napa, California, each year to discover new wine offerings.
“I love what we’re doing,” Upchurch said. “We’re happy to do it here — it’s nice to be able to stay in the bubble and not have to drive 25 miles (to Charlotte) to do it.”
Bin110
Location: 19712 One Norman Blvd Suite 110, Cornelius, NC 28031
Instagram: @bin110lkn
