New Belleville wine bar and lounge opens for business downtown. It already has regulars

Grafted Wine Bar & Lounge in downtown Belleville quietly opened its doors to the public in July.

Owner Magda Gilpin, of Belleville, said that the first few weeks have gone well and that it could be a little slow during the week, especially earlier in the day, but does pick up in the evenings and on weekends. Gilpin said customers are learning about Grafted through its Facebook page and by word of mouth.

While wine makes up the majority of Grafted’s offerings, nibbles that pair well with wines, such as cheese and meat boards with some fruits and vegetables, are available. There are also limited beer and soda options. Grafted recently served up its own Devil’s Margaritas for one day only.

As with most new businesses, it can take time to get into the swing of things. Gilpin said that the staff is great, even though they are not very experienced in the wine and restaurant industry. She added that customers have been patient and that they already have regulars.

Gilpin previously expressed an interest in sharing her knowledge and passion for wine with her customers. She recently noted that many of Grafted’s patrons are older and already know their own wine preferences. Based on that, Gilpin is happy to make recommendations of other wines, allowing customers to sample a few.

“Some people are willing to experiment in finding new flavors they like,” said Gilpin.

Customers are able to enjoy both familiar and new flavors in the comfort of Grafted’s welcoming setting. Whether at the bar, in one of the other rooms or on one of the patios, patrons are surrounded with richly detailed decor. The attention that Gilpin has given to the details of the historic building really shows.

Gilpin said earlier this year that the building’s interior was already in good shape, the previous owner having had some work done, keeping with the style of the original structure. Gilpin repurposed as much as possible. The bar was made by using doors from this and other historic properties.

Transforming the former law office into the new hangout is an ongoing project for Gilpin, who has been working on the property for more than a year. With the wine bar continuing to attract new customers, work is still being done on the upper level, which contains four rooms that will serve as a bed and breakfast. Gilpin hopes the rooms will be ready in a few months.

Grafted is located at 310 E. Washington St. in Belleville. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, noon to midnight Thursday-Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit facebook.com/graftedbelleville.

This story was originally published July 31, 2021 at 7:00 AM.