 | House. Wine. | 1117 W. Bus. 83 78501 |
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NEW BARS: House. Wine.
The precocious periods in "House. Wine." are the first hint you're in for a taste of Austin.
The chic nightspot has all the capital city trademarks down - mood lighting, posh couches and tables, a relaxed color scheme, the air of the upper class. The glamour even spills on to Business 83, which almost resembles Congress Avenue. The wine and furniture shop spreads atmosphere with its grand window view, one of co-owner (and Austinite) Jessica Delgado's favorite spots.
With several years of operating the Carabba's Italian restaurant in Austin under their belts, Jessica and husband Larry Delgado, a 1993 graduate of Edinburg North, decided to make their move.
"We thought it was a good time to test the waters in McAllen," Larry said. "We researched the market."
Moving closer to the Rio Grande, however, did not mean leaving Town Lake totally behind. Reminiscent of Austin's love for all things fusion, the trendy lounge is paired with a high-quality furniture store - "meshing two concepts into one," as Larry puts it.
That wasn't necessarily a sure sell in McAllen, but the Delgados saw their window of opportunity in the reincarnation of downtown.
"We wanted to be part of the face lift, the energy," Jessica said. "When they say it's the heart of the city, it's really the heart of the Valley."
House. Wine.
(956) 994-8331
1117 W. Bus. 83
Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight
Opened: October 2
Formerly: Alonso's Photo Studio
Style: Beer & wine lounge/furniture store
Recipe: Osuka - disco lighting + Pier 1 + big-city vibe
Musical style: Soft and jazzy
ONLINE: www.housewinemcallen.com
AGE: 21-40
TRY THE: Tincho, an Argentinian wine with a twist of lime, as recommended by customer Karla Gage, 26
ONE YEAR OUTLOOK: Rosy. As proven by the trendy boutiques on Business 83 and the many art venues along Main Street, McAllenites are buying the idea of refinement in the heart of the city. House. Wine.'s confident, sophisticated charisma will enchant the socialites, and their dollars will sustain the establishment so the rest of us can love it, too.
