By Carol Ann Conover<\/p>\n
A new chapter is being written for South Street. Katy\u2019s Wine & Whiskey Bar, a sophisticated yet approachable destination for wine lovers, whiskey enthusiasts and anyone seeking an elevated evening out, is expected to open in June at 46 South St., in a building dating to the 1890s that has been gutted and rehabilitated by developer Chris Patten.<\/p>\n
Behind the venture are two partners who bring complementary strengths: Bill Dingman, a two-decade veteran of the Glens Falls restaurant industry, and Katie Foster, a local real estate agent and wife of the building\u2019s developer. Together, they are betting that the momentum building along South Street is ready to support something new \u2014 a bar that is refined without being pretentious, social without being rowdy.<\/p>\n
For Dingman, the opening carries personal significance. He got his start in the industry at 14 at the Lake George Pancake House and went on to spend eight years as general manager of Bistro Tallulah \u2014 a restaurant he credits as one of the catalysts for the revitalization of the Glens Falls dining scene. He has since managed Morgan and Company, Raul\u2019s Mexican Grill, Craft on 9 and Forged, among others.<\/p>\n
\u201cBistro Tallulah was one of the catalysts for sort of the revitalization of Glens Falls, of the Renaissance of the dining scene in the area,\u201d Dingman said. \u201cI was at the beginning of what felt like a real revitalization \u2014 and to now be opening an establishment of my own right here in this downtown setting is a bit of a full-circle moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is Dingman\u2019s first ownership stake after 20 years in the industry. He will continue in his current role as district operations manager at Spot Coffee while the restaurant ramps up, with his responsibilities expected to evolve as Katy\u2019s finds its footing.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/b>Foster began her career 13 years ago waitressing at the Log Jam in Lake George. Now a mother of three, she credits her latest opportunity to South Street development activity that began in 2016 with a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s inspiring to have the development on South Street bringing all the new businesses and all the new energy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The partnership itself has roots stretching back years. Dingman is best friends with Foster\u2019s husband, Chris, and the two men have talked for years about opening a place together. When the opportunity arrived with the South Street building, Foster joined as a collaborator.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that we actually have the opportunity, we have this beautiful lot, we have the building, and it was just a fantastic idea we could do together,\u201d Foster said.<\/p>\n While the bar\u2019s full name is Katy\u2019s Wine & Whiskey Bar, the partners expect it to be known simply as \u201cKaty\u2019s.\u201d The beverage program will feature a curated wine list and a more extensive whiskey selection, along with a full bar.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not about creating just a place to drink,\u201d Foster said. \u201cIt\u2019s about creating an environment for social events \u2014 a sophisticated space for people to really have fun, for date nights, business meetings, girls\u2019 nights.\u201d<\/p>\n The food menu will lean into shareable, tapas-style plates, with a smaller section of more traditional entree-style offerings. The approach is deliberately social: smaller portions, more variety, designed for the table to graze and linger.<\/p>\n The atmosphere is being designed to match. Foster described the vibe as \u201cdark and moody\u201d \u2014 intimate lighting, intentional upholstery, every detail considered. Entertainment will be quiet and atmospheric: think a solo pianist or guitarist tucked into a corner window that overlooks the intersection of Elm and South streets, where passersby can see in.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted something refined, but not intimidating,\u201d Dingman said. \u201cI love that every detail \u2014 down to the lighting, the upholstery \u2014 is intentional. It\u2019s immersive.\u201d<\/p>\n The bar will seat approximately 25 at the bar itself, with a total capacity of 70 seats. The partners do not plan to be a late-night destination; the kitchen is expected to stop serving around 9 p.m., with the bar closing around 10 or 11 p.m.<\/p>\n Both partners spoke at length about their vision for service culture \u2014 warm and engaging, knowledgeable without being stuffy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want a staff that puts hospitality first \u2014 really the core meaning of that word,\u201d Dingman said. \u201cI always think of this area as blue collar with white collar tastes. We\u2019re good old-fashioned working folks who can be inspired to enjoy the finer things. I want to take care of those folks. I want them to remember that hospitality is not dead.\u201d<\/p>\n Foster, who said she plans to be on the floor herself as much as possible, echoed that priority.<\/p>\n \u201cWarm, engaging, detail-oriented but professional \u2014 those people are hard to find,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I\u2019m willing to mold people, to shape what they already know. I love waitressing. I want to be there, talking tables, giving that presence and that good feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n Dingman emphasized that a tight front-of-house and back-of-house relationship will be foundational. \u201cThat teamwork is fundamental. If you want to get the academic side of it, I see it as a structural part of a successful business \u2014 in restaurants or any industry. Communicating an effective vision and connecting all the interconnected parts of your business is how you produce really good results.\u201d<\/p>\n The partners say community connection is central to their plan. They intend to participate in Take a Bite Wednesdays, collaborate with the farmers market located across the street, and take part in downtown block parties and seasonal events. The Adirondack Thunder and year-round Glens Falls tourism, they said, all work toward their vision.<\/p>\n \u201cThe momentum is in our favor, the development is in our favor,\u201d Dingman said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of great pieces to the puzzle that would inspire any entrepreneur to invest in Glens Falls and want to be part of that business environment.\u201d<\/p>\n Foster said she is keenly aware of the importance of visibility. \u201cI want to make sure everyone knows we\u2019re there. I really want to be very social, very out there,\u201d she said, noting that a nearby establishment had struggled in part because of limited public awareness.<\/p>\n Two doors down, another new bar, Judd\u2019s Tavern, is also set to open, offering a complementary but distinct atmosphere \u2014 TVs and a late-night vibe \u2014 that the partners say will serve a different crowd.<\/p>\n The space at 46 South St. dates to the 1890s and was formerly home to a dry cleaner. Foster said she has an original black-and-white photograph of the building from that era that she hopes to display somewhere inside \u2014 perhaps as part of a small visual history of the space.<\/p>\n The building has been gutted and the interior rebuilt and customized. Foster praised both the planning board process and the construction phase as smooth. \u201cWorking with the planning board was so easy \u2014 they were unanimously supportive of the concept,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd my husband has added a lot of details we wouldn\u2019t have thought of ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Dingman noted that parking in downtown Glens Falls remains a challenge for the business community broadly. \u201cThe policies seem inadequate,\u201d he said. \u201cThere needs to be a reimagining of how we approach this issue with all the stakeholders at the table \u2014 restaurants are the lifeblood of the city and they deserve a seat at that table.\u201d<\/p>\n The team plans a soft launch with family and friends prior to opening to the public, allowing time to train staff and refine the menu before a wider debut.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a completely brand-new business \u2014 not moving one location to another,\u201d Foster said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to train everyone, bring everyone in, and build a whole new menu. Easing into it allows for feedback and the chance to really hone the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Hiring is underway. Prospective employees can reach out directly by email at katy@katyswineandwhiskeybar.com or bill@katyswineandwhiskeybar.com. An Indeed account and social media presence are also forthcoming.<\/p>\n Katy\u2019s Wine & Whiskey Bar is located at 46 South St., Glens Falls. For updates, follow the restaurant\u2019s social media channels as they launch in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Carol Ann Conover A new chapter is being written for South Street. Katy\u2019s Wine & Whiskey Bar, a sophisticated yet approachable destination for wine lovers, whiskey enthusiasts and anyone seeking an elevated evening out, is expected to open in June at 46 South St., in a building dating to the 1890s that has been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"\r\n