Craft Winery And Bistro Wins Zoning Board Approval In Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — A California-based urban craft winery and bistro could open its doors as early as next spring in downtown Doylestown.

The borough’s zoning hearing board on Oct. 19 voted to grant a use variance that will allow Waters Edge Wineries to set up shop on the first floor and basement of The Residences at 50 North Main Street.

During the hearing, attorney Daniel Lyons, representing Worth & Worth, argued for the variance pointing to the building’s location adjacent to similar uses across the street in the central commercial zoning district. He also cited the unusual shape of the space, which he said makes the wine bistro “the most suitable use for the property.”

Under the current office zoning a wine bistro is not a permitted use.

During testimony, Waters Edge principal Eric Landolfi detailed plans for the winery and bistro, which will feature an 84 seat bistro, kitchen and standup wine bar on the first floor and a tasting room and wine production facility in the basement.

The building, located at North Main Street and Shewell Avenue across the street from the Doylestown Fire Company and the Bucks County Administration Building, is being renovated and expanded to include six high-end residential units, five enclosed garage spaces and the proposed winery and bistro.

The Doylestown Waters Edge Winery and Bistro will be the first for the franchise in Bucks County, the first in Pennsylvania and the first in the Northeast. Its other 13 locations are in California, Illinois, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia.

Waters Edge was founded as an urban winery in 2004 by Ken and Angela Lineberger in California under the name, “The Wine Tailor."

The business evolved from being an award-winning winery to being a winery during the day and a wine bar in the evening. The Linebergers expanded the business by adding weekend entertainment and paired wines with light food and appetizers.

The franchise, said Landolfi, was listed in INC Magazine’s Top 5,000 franchises in 2022. “We were 2,894th on that list. It is a unique concept that continues to grow. And we are anticipating adding another six to seven locations by 2024,” he said.

Inside the new bistro at 50 North Main Street in Doylestown, a menu will offer patrons a selection of "farm to table" concepts including fresh appetizers, small plates, tapas, flatbreads, sandwiches, salads, charcuterie boards and desserts.

“I don’t want to compete against finer dining restaurants in the area,” he said. “This will be more small plates and tapas. I’m envisioning something like in Europe where they have wine bars.”

At the heart of the operation will be its on-site micro-winery, producing in-house and classic selections as well as lesser-known grape varieties.

The production operation will be located on the lower level. That's where patrons will also find a 'Winemakers Table,' which can accommodate up to 20 guests. "You'll be able to rent the room and have wine tastings directly from the tanks," said Landolfi.

He described the production end of the operation as a small batch micro-winery.

“We’ll get our juice from all over the world - California mainly,” he said. “It will come in small touts and packages. When we get it we’ll put it in our vats to ferment. It will then go into our holding - or aging - tanks. After four to eight weeks we’ll bottle the wine.

“We will be making wine for the wine novice and more complex wine for the wine connoisseur,” said Landolfi. They will be selling bottles to go with the option of a customized label.

Landolfi said he's hoping for a spring 2023 opening.