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Saturday, December 6, 2008

UPDATED: Swirll Winery in downtown Dallas closing on December 20

Updated 09:40 p.m., December 15, 2008

by Teresa Gubbins

DALLAS — Swirll Winery, the bottle-your-own winery located in the lobby of the Davis Building on Main Street in downtown Dallas, will close for good on December 20, confirmed Peggy Davion, who co-owned the business with her husband Louis.

"We ran out of money," she said. "We had no money. We've been trying and trying with all our heart and soul for the last six to eight months, thought we'd get busy at Christmas time, and nothing. So we made the decision that we just don't have a choice."

Swirll opened in mid-2005 bolstered by a year's worth of financial incentives from the city. But Davion says that very few downtown residents supported them.

"The corporate level supported us in a big way, but that business is not here any longer," she said. "It's the economy. We were doing nothing but fabulous until January and February, and it's been a decline every since. We're just like Wall Street, GM, and all the banks -- we're out of money."

All merchandise at the store is marked down to half off, and all batches of wine must be picked up by December 20. The two will return to their careers in computers and real estate.

"It breaks our heart to leave here," Peggy said.

UPDATE: DMN sharpie Dave Levinthal sussed out the exact amount of "financial incentives" that the Davions received:

Swirll, which opened in 2005, pocketed $301,875 in downtown retail recruitment initiative funds offered by Dallas City Hall, according to city records.

Taxpayers will not get that money back, however. Swirll stayed open long enough, per city rules, to avoid returning any portion of the funds.

Holy moley.

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

I never developed an appreciation for their wine.

Hmmmm. Actually, very nice folks but the product just "wasn't there."

Lisa Lawrence Merritt Verified

11 months, 3 weeks ago
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I liked their wine though it could be a bit pricey sometimes, and the place is (was) cool. Damn.

JW Richard Verified

11 months, 3 weeks ago
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half priced wine... i might have to make a trip!

Collin Gouldin Verified

11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Theres cheaper wine downtown, I see the bums drinking thunderbird, wild irish rose and cisco all the time...

Chris Kidd Verified

11 months, 2 weeks ago
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I was always hoping that Mercy would expand into Downtown. I think a Mercy concept would be more successful because they have such a large "by the glass" wine menu....and food.

~sigh~

Lisa Lawrence Merritt Verified

11 months, 2 weeks ago
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I always thought they closed kind of early for the weekends. Unfortunate to see more space down there going unused.

DC Anonymous

11 months, 2 weeks ago
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I think their concept isn't right for downtown right now. They needed to go the wine bar direction, with by the glass wines. I love wine, but I would never purchase an entire barrel at once. I like to switch things up - something that wasn't really available with their concept.

keni76 Anonymous

11 months, 2 weeks ago
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I'm so sorry. These people really tried to deliver something unique and special. I hate like hell watching so many people lose their dream.

Rawlins Gilliland Verified

11 months, 2 weeks ago
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I was wondering when Dallas would start to feel it. EDS up in Plano just laid off thousands according to unfair park.

chasd00 Anonymous

11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Downtown is feeling it, believe me!

Tracy Yost Verified

11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Dallas will lose most of its first time stores in its effort to rebuild Downtown its natural. Downtown will continue to try to hold what it can on the graces of passionate business individuals. Downtown is going through its awakening phases and not every business will survive the developing retail climate. One question we might ask have they remained flexible with their hours? Things have changed over the years in Downtown and some business models that worked when nothing was down there don't anymore. It requires you as a business person to adapt and be ready to alter your concept if the weather changes. I thank them for their efforts in Downtown they will be missed but lets not see this as some Canary in a Mine shaft cause there is much to look forward to and happening in Downtown Dallas.