ARTICLE
When Mark and Carrie Gerencher were planning the new Sleepy Cat Urban Winery, they saw the West End Theatre District in Allentown as a place where there would be a strong demand for their wine. They were right. More than 100 people showed up for the ribbon cutting of the winery, at 1840 W. Allen St., including elected officials, Chamber of Commerce members, surrounding businesses and people who lived in the neighborhood. Miriam Huertas, vice president of Allentown affairs for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, said an urban winery is novel for the community, noting that it will be the only urban winery on the Lehigh Valley Wine trail. “When most people think of wineries, they think of grapes and grape vines,” she said, motioning to the street and sidewalks surrounding the winery, which were quite clearly vine-free. Instead of growing their own, an urban winery, such as Sleepy Cat, ships in grape juice from around the world and makes the wine on-site. Mike Drabenstott, former president of the West End Alliance, a business and community group, said the winery is “exactly what the district needs to complement what’s already here.” He said it will help other businesses in the district and be a great second destination for someone who may be attending a nearby theater performance or shopping in the 19th Street stores – to enjoy a glass of wine and take a bottle home. Speaking at the ribbon cutting, U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent said, “I hope a lot of people come here enjoy themselves, enjoy a couple of glasses of wine and take Uber home.” Because of the winery’s proximity to many homes, some won’t need a car service. “I’m so excited that I have a winery that I can walk to,” said Donna Peiffer, who lives a couple of blocks away. “I’m going to be coming here a lot.” Click here to read the original article
When Mark and Carrie Gerencher were planning the new Sleepy Cat Urban Winery, they saw the West End Theatre District in Allentown as a place where there would be a strong demand for their wine.
They were right.
More than 100 people showed up for the ribbon cutting of the winery, at 1840 W. Allen St., including elected officials, Chamber of Commerce members, surrounding businesses and people who lived in the neighborhood.
Miriam Huertas, vice president of Allentown affairs for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, said an urban winery is novel for the community, noting that it will be the only urban winery on the Lehigh Valley Wine trail.
“When most people think of wineries, they think of grapes and grape vines,” she said, motioning to the street and sidewalks surrounding the winery, which were quite clearly vine-free.
Instead of growing their own, an urban winery, such as Sleepy Cat, ships in grape juice from around the world and makes the wine on-site.
Mike Drabenstott, former president of the West End Alliance, a business and community group, said the winery is “exactly what the district needs to complement what’s already here.”
He said it will help other businesses in the district and be a great second destination for someone who may be attending a nearby theater performance or shopping in the 19th Street stores – to enjoy a glass of wine and take a bottle home.
Speaking at the ribbon cutting, U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent said, “I hope a lot of people come here enjoy themselves, enjoy a couple of glasses of wine and take Uber home.”
Because of the winery’s proximity to many homes, some won’t need a car service.
“I’m so excited that I have a winery that I can walk to,” said Donna Peiffer, who lives a couple of blocks away. “I’m going to be coming here a lot.” Click here to read the original article