Week in Review
The once bustling Benny Deluca’s pizzeria, known widely as the “home of the Virginia slice”, has given way to the shiny new Grape & Grain Exchange, a store specializing in wines and beers, on Charlottesville’s West Main Street.
Grape & Grain Exchange threw open its doors to customers on February 1, operating from the 913 W. Main St. location. Living up to its name, it has an impressive range of wines, beers, seltzers, and energy drinks. The shop particularly focuses on catering to the University of Virginia students and hospital workers passing by.
Let’s rewind a bit to remember that Benny Deluca’s had been a landmark at the West Main spot from as far back as 2014. However, they shut down in the July of 2023. We still await news about whether they plan to spring back somewhere else in the city. Furthermore, they’ve scrubbed Charlottesville off their list of Virginia locations on the chain’s website.
There is indeed no shortage of wine shops in Charlottesville. A mere third of a mile from Grape & Grain sits Bottle House; Feast at Main Street Market, boasting an impressive selection of wines, is just a few hundred feet away; and further down the road, one can find Crush Pad Wines, Market Street Wines and Tastings of Charlottesville right by or just off the Downtown Mall.
Picture a pedestrian strolling past Grape & Grain Exchange, a shop on West Main Street focused on providing a wide variety of wine and beer, on the crowdless evening of Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024.
However, Dru Patel, the owner of Grape & Grain, and his brother and business associate, Nick, affirm that their shop offers something fresh to the scenario.
The Patel brothers were moved by a tour of Europe during which they got a chance to explore an array of wine shops across different countries. Filled with inspiration, they returned to the United States resolved to introduce Charlottesville to the unique concept of small, affordable wine shops.
With the Benny Deluca’s space on the market, the brothers seized the opportunity to convert the 1,400-square-foot area into their dream concept.
Observing the location, it bears similarity to any other wine shop in town. The distinguishing factor of Grape & Grain Exchange is affordability.
Wines on display are clearly seen at the Grape & Grain Exchange, a shop specializing in wine and beer located on West Main Street in Charlottesville, documented on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024.
“We’re challenging the common perception that high-quality wine must be expensive,” Dru Patel disclosed to The Daily Progress. “Every wine in here is priced below $20, yet these are brands that consumers will readily identify.”
The Patel brothers have identified the business opportunities available on West Main in Charlottesville, thanks to its close proximity to the downtown area, Grounds, the Corner and UVa Medical Center. Their family is no stranger to the potential of this area, as their father, Vasu Patel, runs the Mini Mart convenience store a few steps away from Grape & Grain.
Ever since Vasu Patel and his family left Kenya over two decades ago, he’s been involved in the retail industry, says Dru Patel. The family’s retail ventures in Charlottesville include the Mini Mart, Grape & Grain, and the 9th Street Market. The latter is a convenient store located behind the Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant downtown, which the Patel brothers launched about half a year ago.
Shortly after the opening of Grape & Grain, the Patel brothers began discussing additional expansion plans.
Dru Patel, who owns the Grape & Grain Exchange, was photographed at the Charlottesville wine and beer shop on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
“We are focused on seeing how this goes, but it’s also our stepping stone,” said Dru Patel, referring to the wine shop. “We are looking to branch out by the end of the year with hopefully another location with more space.”
Grape & Grain is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. To keep up to date on new arrivals, events and promotions, customers can visit the Grape & Grain Instagram: cvillegrapeandgrain.
The interior of Grape & Grain Exchange, a wine and beer shop on West Main Street in Charlottesville, is seen on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024.
Emily Hemphill (540) 855-0362
@EmilyHemphill06 on Twitter
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Week in Review
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