Neighborhood Wine Shop, a hospitality-forward retail space that showcases “honest wine making,” is celebrating its one year anniversary May 22. The community is invited to raise a glass (or two) and toast the establishment’s first birthday.
The 500-square-foot shop, located at 2875 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg, is a collaborative project between Bryce Kennedy and Sydney Knowlton, wine enthusiasts and hospitality veterans. Fittingly, they met at a local wine bar.
Knowlton had been working at the now-shuttered CellarMasters on 1st Avenue N. where Kennedy, who drove from Lakeland to St. Pete to frequent the bar, was a regular. When a position opened up, Knowlton suggested that Kennedy join the team. They worked together at CellarMasters for over two years before departing to pursue other ventures.
“We had some regulars that kind of hunted us down,” said Knowlton, “and were like, ‘We miss you guys. What are you doing? What does it take for you to open your own space?’”…