New wine bar alert in Dilworth: Cozy vibes, shareable plates from duo behind Customshop
The team behind Customshop and Marina’s Tapas has announced plans to open a wine bar in Dilworth in late summer or early fall.
And it’s the wine bar of their dreams.
This 1,200-square-feet spot that was most recently Mere’s will transform into a welcoming, homey wine bar with a backdrop of fresh, shareable food, operated by Alex Bridges and chef Andres Kaifer.
“When I was like 20-something years old and I thought I might want to have a restaurant one day, I thought of this place,” Bridges said. “This is always what I’ve wanted to do.”
It’s also where he and Kaifer just want to be and hang out themselves. The idea — a cozy, wine-centric spot with food that stands up to the wine — has been in their back pockets for over a year. When the quaint Dilworth space became available upon Mere’s official closure in December 2024, the business partners knew this location was it. Accessible parking in a cool, residential neighborhood was the golden ticket.
Bridges and Kaifer have been working like a clever dynamic duo since meeting at Vidrio in Raleigh in 2019. Together, they crafted a new identity for 17-year-old Customshop and opened a Spanish food stall, Marina’s Tapas, in Optimist Hall.
The announcement comes on the heels of Marina’s opening in late 2024. It’s a quick expansion, but Kaifer credits his team — Marina’s chef de cuisine Adriana “Dre” Cavazos and Customshop’s chef de cuisine Matt Moore and more — for creating a foundation that’s allowed them to do this in just a few months.
The ambiance
Kaifer and Bridges will revamp the unoccupied space, which was once bright and white, into a homier, earthier aesthetic. They’re moving away from something stark and sleek to something more “comfortable.” Bridges kept returning to that word.
“The space will definitely feel more comfy and cozy,” Bridges said. “The idea is that you’re coming in to sit and relax and hang out with your friends.” There will be a communal table, outdoor options, indoor tables and bar seating.
It’ll be a semi-daytime spot, too, with plans to rotate pastries and sandwiches during the day and switch up to smaller, shareable plates in the evening.
The menu
Bridges knows there are a lot of wine-focused bars in the city. He also knows a lot of great restaurants. But he’s still waiting for the two to merge into one compelling concept. To him, this wine bar is that merging.
“It’s important for us to introduce people to regions and varietals they haven’t had and will love,” Bridges said in a press release. The crew plans to offer both by-the-glass and by-the-bottle, feature a custom tap system, host tastings and provide to-go and retail options.
They want it to be a bar where people can learn about wine.
“There’s not a ton of places where you can come in and have a really friendly, chill environment and get a really great bottle of wine that you may not have ever heard of before,” Bridges said. Plus, get really good food.
On the menu, Kaifer plans for plates with a similar style to Customshop, just slightly smaller and with a more shareable focus.
He compares the menu vibe to recent James Beard semifinalist Leo’s House of Thirst in Asheville, nominated for its outstanding wine program. “Chill, unassuming, but solid, good, very delicious, food sourced seasonally,” Kaifer said. “Snacky kind of things like meats and cheeses,” but still substantial.
As of right now, there is not yet an official name or an explicit menu for the bar. The owners will be sharing more details soon.
