Village Vineyard celebrates grand opening

by Kathy Duff
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, December 3, 2005

Margaret Talarico (center) joins with state Assemblywoman Francene DeMonte, Village of Lewiston Mayor Richard Soluri and area business associates at last month’s ribbon cutting. (photo by Kathy Duff)

“I wanted to take a chance in my hometown,” says Margaret Talarico, owner and operator of The Village Vineyard fine wine boutique located at 467 Center St. in Lewiston. The official ribbon-cutting at the newly remodeled store on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. included family and friends, hors d’oeuvres and, of course, wine.

Talarico is a former pre-school swim instructor in Lewiston, enjoying her job teaching more than 80 youngsters a week for several years, but she sensed a need for a change. Opening this store and joining the ranks of such small veteran businesses as Obtoose Moose, Quote & Quill and The Kazbar -- all located in the same building in the heart of the business district -- Talarico credits this feat to family, friends, and government officials who helped her make her new venture a reality.

Her husband Jerry and three grown children have supported her, making suggestions, encouraging and remodeling. “It’s been scary, but fun,” says Margaret. “And I have been encouraging families…my own children…to come to Lewiston to raise their families. They’ve done the big city thing,” she adds.

Talarico sees small businesses such as The Village Vineyard and many others which line Center Street as very attractive to people who share her love for Lewiston and its striking physical setting and neighborliness.

Why a wine boutique as opposed to something more elaborate? Talarico says it is not been her aim to compete with or recreate a large liquor store or gourmet shop. Rather, she wants people to be able to spend a “competitive” $9 to $15 on a good bottle of wine from a varied, but not overwhelming, selection.

Her stock includes wines from smaller, “lesser known” vineyards, and while she does feature Niagara Wine Trails vintages, she also carries wines from far outside the River Region and Canada. Her suppliers bring in selections from the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Oregon, Washington State and even Australia.

Talarico is very excited about her offering of wine tasting parties for the holidays. People can get a group together, book a party and come in to sample 20 or so different wines, including champagne, and enjoy hors d’oeuvres as well.

“It’s something different that people can enjoy,” she explains.

Joining Talarico in characteristically different Lewiston fare are three other newly renovated stores.

The Kazbar, located right next door at 463 Center St. joined in the Nov. 19 ribbon-cutting, bringing attention to its continuing 5-year run as an intimate, no-franchise coffee and dessert shop. The Kazbar is owned and operated by Christine Kaczmarek who is also in partnership with Patricia Nashwinter in running neighboring Quote & Quill. Relocated to 469 Center St. the Quote & Quill has been selling a variety of goods and services since 1978, including home-made chocolates, wedding supplies, gift baskets, and business and personal stationery.

Also celebrating a re-opening was the Obtoose Moose. Likewise found at 469 Center St., and owned and operated by Rick and Kristin Haight, this shop offers food, “gifts and art for the outdoor heart.” The Haights are also engineers, with Kristin planning on using surprising ample office space behind her shop to tackle local renovation projects.

Margaret Talarico invites the public to stop-in at her shop and those of her new neighbors during the Lewiston Christmas Walk, Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4.