New Wine, Dessert Bar Gets Green Light In Woodstock

WOODSTOCK, GA -- If everything falls into place, Woodstock could soon have a new wine and dessert bar situated in the heart of the city.

The City Council at its April 10 meeting approved a variance request for plans related to Rootstock & Vine, a proposed wine bar and restaurant with a rooftop deck.

The applicant, Woodstock resident Sean Daily, submitted variances to deviate from downtown architectural standards related to building height, interior ceiling height and the percentage required by city ordinance for glass window displays.

Daily told city leaders he plan to use the existing structure and modify it to fit his needs.

Plans also call for building an addition onto the back or west side of the parcel and to also construct a rooftop deck that would be accessible from both inside and outside the building.

The owners of Hot Dog Heaven, Becky and Barney Wentzel, initially considered an offer from Waffle House to build a new restaurant on the property at 8588 Main Street. However, those plans fell through when the Georgia-based company withdrew its proposal from consideration. Hot Dog Heaven shuttered its operations earlier this year.

Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques wondered how old the building was and said while he was hopeful developers will be able to save the structure, "you have to prepared for the alternative.”

Tim Vaccaro, a principal with Place Maker Design, the company working with Daily on the design of the new concept, said he's been told the building was constructed in the early 1900's and once served as the site of the city's Post Office.

"Our goal in doing this is to work with the existing building," Vaccaro said, adding that's why Daily filed the variance application.

He also said he felt good about the company's ability to save the structure.

For his part, Daily said he's lived in Woodstock for 20 years and said he is eager to retain some part of old Woodstock.

“I wouldn’t do this project if it mean tearing down the building," he said. "My goal is to preserve some history.”

Along with the Council giving the green light for Daily's variance application, city leaders also approved surplusing and demolishing the building next to the former restaurant at 8560 Main Street.

Formerly known as the Wayne Lester Building, the structure was purchased by the city in 2009 because it needed right-of-way for the Towne Lake Parkway/Arnold Mill Road widening project.

Most residents may know the building as the gray structure that features the famous mural at the corner of Main Street and Towne Lake Parkway. Unfortunately, the mural won't be saved from demolition, but City Manager Jeff Moon said the city had a photographer take multiple photos of the work of art. That will come in handy if the city decides to recreate the mural at another location.

Additionally, it also applied for and received a grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission to create a new mural on the Woodstock Pharmacy wall, which sits on the corner of Main and Mill Streets.

Image via Rootstock & Vine