It’s all about the wine, food and atmosphere
By Jillian Chandler
As summer is in full swing here in Coeur d’Alene, things just got that much better, as some of the best outdoor dining around can now be found at Wine House, located at 1621 East Sherman Avenue. The business opened its doors to the public in July of last year, amid the pandemic, and is excited to welcome guests back as they celebrate their one-year anniversary this month, as well as the addition of their beautiful new outdoor oasis.
Originally purchased in October of 2019, the space, which housed the Hock Shop for three decades, has undergone intensive structural improvements and remodeling. As of press time, they had just finished phase two of the remodel, completing the side and back patio, according to Nicole Hammons, who owns the business with husband Conor.
“The updates include a covered patio, turf grass in the back, small stage, and area for yard games,” she smiles. “The third and final phase will begin next year, as we turn our garage into a private event room.”
The couple originally purchased the property because, as Nicole laughs, “It was a good deal, and my husband is in real estate.” But once the sale went through, they began to envision what the building could become. While on vacation, Nicole and Conor discovered a place they loved! While relaxing over wine, they thought, “This is what we are missing.” And the rest is history.
“When we were dreaming what we would do with the building, we really wanted something that would be good for the community,” Nicole says. “We feel Wine House fills the void of a fun, casual place to get wine (and beer) with a great patio, which is the biggest draw: It’s away from downtown foot traffic, with lots of space to spread out for large groups.” Attire is “come as you are,” whether that’s off the boat in flip flops or dressed up for a date night.
Nicole’s expertise in marketing and business development, paired with Conor’s knowledge in real estate and advertising made this endeavor that much more possible.
“We may have dreamed it and done a lot of the remodel ourselves, but our success has only been possible with the help of so many people,” affirms Nicole. “Our amazing construction team for making my vision come to life, KAL Construction; the patio work by Clearwater Summit Group; our family who previously owned Embers By The Lake for teaching us all things restaurant; and of course no business is successful without an amazing staff and talented chef, Kelli Cain. A big shootout to our friends and family for spending hours and hours helping us put in the ceiling, fence, landscaping and more.”
Their dream has been realized.
At Wine House, guests will be treated to a relaxed environment in which they can enjoy a glass or bottle of wine, craft beer and ciders. During the summer months, frozen cocktails are available to help cool you down on a hot day. Appetizers, charcuterie, flatbread pizzas and dessert round out the menu. Everything on the menu is also offered to-go in addition to the favorite wine chillers, mugs, blankets and swag.
One of the couple’s primary goals with Wine House was to take the pretentiousness out of wine tasting. “If you love wine and know a lot about it, wonderful. If you love wine and know nothing, amazing. You’re both welcome here,” Nicole smiles.
Creating this incredible space for them to share with others has allowed the Hammons the chance to meet their neighbors and community members. “We love that it brings people together, especially during/after a very stressful year,” says Nicole. It also affords her and Conor an opportunity to give back to the community by donating to fundraisers or hosting community events.
“We love this community,” says Conor. “We both have served on several boards, volunteer, and Nicole is even the Development Director for the Boys & Girls Club. The best part of this community is it always shows up for local businesses and gives support. We love to be a part of that.”
Wine House
1621 East Sherman Avenue
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814
208.930.1498