New Wine Shop Eyes Up Former Kafka Wines on Halsted

A new wine shop is looking to fill an empty storefront on North Halsted Street in Lake View, and according to the owners, not much will change from the former shop that once filled the space.

Partners Joe Giannini and Tommy Spinosa are anxiously waiting for approval from the Lake View neighborhood and city for their newest business Paired Wine Shop, a store that will replace the former Kafka Wines at 3325 N. Halsted Street. And according to Giannini, residents will already know what to expect.

“With being respectful to the prior owner and not trying to scam out on their idea, I think the $15 and under idea for wine would be good,” Giannini said. “…Our whole idea behind the store is pairing wine with foods and chocolates and cheeses.”

Kafka Wines closed in the summer of 2012 after owner Joseph Kafka sadly committed suicide at 38-years-old in June of 2011. The successful store sold more than 250 wines at less than $15 a bottle, according to the Chicago Tribune.  

However, although Giannini said the new business would be almost an exact replica of the former successful business, members at the Belmont Harbor Neighbors meeting were skeptical. Between what type of liquor would be sold to the business hours, they said they need a more detailed plan of operation before moving forward.

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And while Ald. Tom Tunney (44^th) agreed, he reminded the group of the similar scrutiny Kafka underwent while applying to open up shop.

“When Kafka applied there was a lot of angst about what (the store) might be, and Belmont Harbor turned it down, then brought it back again because of fear of the unknown,” Tunney said. “I think most of us were very happy with the perceived success of Kafka Wines… From a perspective, you have big shoes to fill because it was well done.”

Giannini is still working with the alderman’s office on a plan of operations, but said the store most likely wouldn’t be open past 11 p.m. He also said he’d work with local businesses who offer BYOB to keep cash in the community.

Giannini and Spinosa are already own the dog walking and daycare business Ourban Out Sitters with locations in Lake View and the West Loop. 

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