New Wine Bar to Open in St. Louis Maker District

Owners of food and drink businesses can adopt the hybrid retail-service model to drive higher per-square-foot revenue.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Openings & Closings

New Wine Bar to Open in St. Louis Maker District

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Esca Vino Spuntino, a new wine bar and retail shop owned by Ben Poremba, is scheduled to open in the first week of November 2026 at 5090 Delmar. The establishment brings an Italian enoteca concept to the Delmar Maker District in St. Louis.

Why it matters

By clustering multiple distinct concepts, Poremba seeks to drive traffic to the district, which continues to recover following tornado damage in May 2025. The model offers operators a blueprint for revitalizing urban storefronts through thematic, multi-use service spaces.

This opening represents the latest expansion in the Delmar Maker District, adding to Poremba's existing portfolio of three local restaurants. The business occupies the 5090 Delmar space, formerly home to Florentine, which also fell under the same ownership.

The players

Ben Poremba

A restaurateur who operates a cluster of dining concepts within the St. Louis Delmar Maker District.

Luciano Racca

The wine director responsible for the Italian-focused curation at the new establishment.

The details

The establishment utilizes a hybrid retail-service model where customers purchase bottles at retail price and pay a corkage fee to consume them on-site. The interior design avoids conventional layouts, instead incorporating antique furniture, vintage scales, and secluded nooks to mirror the atmosphere of Italian enotecas. This configuration allows for high-margin service revenue alongside standard retail bottle sales.

2024: The original Esca restaurant launched in the district.
May 2025: A tornado caused significant damage to the district.
November 2026: Esca Vino Spuntino opens to the public.

Market Landscape

The opening follows the district's significant recovery efforts after the May 2025 tornado. It builds on a trend of operator-led place-making where single owners concentrate multiple brands in one neighborhood to capture cross-concept consumer traffic.

Operators in impacted districts should analyze the viability of hybrid retail-service models to maximize square-footage revenue. Consider whether combining retail bottle sales with on-site consumption can improve margins in your specific market segment.

The takeaway

Concentrating multiple niche concepts in one district can serve as a strategy for neighborhood revitalization. Monitor the upcoming relaunch of Elaia and Olio as indicators of the owner's broader expansion pace in the district.