Tampa Bay wine aficiondoes rejoice: Chicago-based Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant will open its first Florida location in Tampa by early 2013.
Plans call for a move into an 11,229-square-foot space at
MetWest International,
MetLife's 32-acre mixed-used development in
Westshore. The eclectic winery and restaurant will hire approximately 125 new folks prior to opening its 12th location, the first outside of the Midwest.
A full-service restaurant offering contemporary American cuisine in a one-of-a-kind winery atmosphere, the Westshore
Cooper's Hawk location will also feature a
Napa-style tasting room,
wine club and
retail shop.
“Each dish on our
menu has been created with our proprietary wines in mind,” says Melanie Pierce, Cooper's Hawk manager of marketing communications. “Florida is a long ways from California, but we have the ability to bring a taste of
California Wine Country to Florida.”
According to Pierce, one of Cooper Hawk's goals it to give guests a unique experience, capturing the romantic world of wine in an approachable manner. This allows customers to feel comfortable enough to ask questions, try samples and discover an appreciation for wine, including how best to pair up their favorites and new selections with food.
The new 400-seat Westshore location also will offer an expansive outdoor patio area overlooking a fountain.
“We wanted to take the leap outside of the Midwest and felt that Tampa was the right opportunity to do so,” Pierce says. “We fell in love with the Tampa community and this specific location in Westshore. From the building design to our amazing co-tenants, we feel like this is a great fit!”
Writer:
Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Melanie Pierce,
Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant
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