Bottle shop & wine bar: global wines, minority vintners, horror nods





2901 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 Get directions
$20–30
"This Avondale bottle shop from Chicago hospitality veteran Dave Thompson (Lula Cafe, Cherry Circle Room) pairs a robust selection of Old and New World wines with an intimate seating area that’s ideal for meeting up with a friend or savoring a glass solo. The wine lineup emphasizes minority vintners, and horror fans (the shop is named for 1975 Italian horror icon Deep Red) will get a charge out of winks and nods to the genre." - Ashok Selvam
"If you like scary movies and wine, you will be excited about Deep Red Wine Merchant. It’s a small wine bar opening in Avondale named after a 1970’s Italian horror film and will feature horror-themed decorations. In addition to being able to grab a glass of wine in their intimate 12-seat space, they’ll also have a retail section where you can purchase bottles to go. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation
"A bottle shop and tasting room with a cinematic, slightly spooky aesthetic that prioritizes wines from LGBTQ+, Latinx, Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized winemakers; the project from a seasoned local restaurateur blends retail, tastings, and curated selections aimed at diversifying the local wine scene." - Naomi Waxman
"I noted that Deep Red Wine Merchant, a forthcoming wine bar and bottle shop from Dave Thompson (Lula Cafe, Cherry Circle Room), is undergoing an extensive remodel at 2901 N. Milwaukee Avenue in a historic building and will repurpose 130-year-old wood joists to create merchandise shelving, preserving the beams and the building's weathered character." - Naomi Waxman
"A neighborhood wine shop in Avondale that includes a cozy, 12-seat bar run by Dave Thompson, positioned to be a community-focused, low-capacity evening spot with subtle horror-genre nods and decorative Easter eggs (including a bathroom concept inspired by The Shining) rather than overt genre kitsch; the opening is timed for late fall around Halloween." - Ashok Selvam