Milton P&Z OKs Bacchus Wine Bar permit

Debbie and Rich Sulkovsky are one step closer to bringing Bacchus Wine Bar to downtown Milton.

The Sussex County couple received the first of a slew of approvals to bring the wine bar to the former location of Jailhouse Antiques at 106 Union St. when Milton's Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved their special use permit and site plan during an Oct. 21 meeting, but not without a few conditions.

The wine bar is expected to open around 9 or 10 a.m., and is required to close at 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on weekends, with the exception of special events and when the wine bar's neighbor, The Milton Theatre, hosts evening performances. The wine bar is permitted to stay open an hour after the last curtain closes, but no later than 1 a.m.

“We would like to have some flexibility for special events,” Rich Sulkovsky said. He told commissioners he wasn't planning to run a late-night bar, and that late hours would be an exception for private events or when the theater features evening productions.

“I think it's a good business model, but I also think it's very neighborly and community-oriented to develop this symbiotic relationship with the theater,” Chairman Barry Goodinson said.

Other conditions limit Bacchus Wine Bar of Milton to no more than 20 private events a year and specify no outdoor seating or entertainment.

The special use permit approval categorizes the storefront as suitable for a bar or night club, a definition that Commissioner Mark Quigley said concerned him, especially if someone other than the Sulkovskys took over the building and took advantage of the special use permit.

“The purpose of the use of the property would be for a wine bar … so my specific concern is keep it to the bar and keep it separate from a night club in downtown Milton,” Quigley said. “My thought is to exclude any type of large, loud music [or] bands in little downtown Milton.”

Rich Sulkovsky said the 860-square-foot building isn't large enough to accommodate bands.

The permit allows the Sulkovskys to pursue a taproom license to serve liquor instead of a restaurant license. The couple wanted their business to be considered as a bar, not a restaurant, to avoid extra expenses regarding the proposed kitchen, ventilation and other food-handling requirements. Tens of thousands of dollars in renovations, including a new roof; heating, plumbing and electrical work; and upgrading facilities so they are accessible for people with disabilities, are already needed, the Sulkovskys said in an earlier interview.

“This would be a lighter footprint on the property and on the community than a restaurant … in terms of traffic, in terms of delivery of product, ventilation,” Goodinson said.

The Sulkovskys are in Phase 1 of their plans for the wine bar, which includes renovations and upgrades, but no significant structural changes. The current layout of the building will allow up to 49 occupants, they said. A proposed Phase 2 may include a second-floor balcony overlooking the Broadkill River, which would increase seating.

The Ocean View couple envisions their new business as an upscale wine bar, serving coffee and crepes in the late morning and afternoon, with other light fare, such as artisan pizza, in the evening hours. They plan to host wine tastings and pairings, and expect that 65 percent to 80 percent of their alcoholic beverages will be wine.

Additional conditions included a waiver of the town's off-street loading requirement, a required one-year review of the business's compliance with the special use permit and the commission's approval is contingent upon the Historic Preservation Commission's approval of the Sulkovskys's plans for some updates to the building, such as lighting and doors.

“We're excited and can't wait to get started, and I think we'll make you all proud,” Rich Sulkovsky said immediately following the commission's approval.

The Sulkovskys must still address Milton's Historic Preservation Commission for the second time, as well as acquire necessary approvals from state agencies, including the fire marshal and the Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner. The couple hopes to open Bacchus Wine Bar of Milton in 2015, preferably for Saint Patrick's Day if renovations are completed and permits are approved in time.