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Building on its current success and popularity, Wine and Design is opening its fifth location in Wilson at Shoppes at Brentwood, 2801-3L Ward Boulevard near Nowell & Company. Wine and Design Wilson marks the company’s third franchise and will be operated by mother/daughter co-owners Kathy Hutcheson and Witten Duffy.
Wilson is the home of the East Coast’s largest antique market, as well as several historic homes, sights, and one of Eastern North Carolina's most popular attractions for kids. The town was incorporated in 1849 as a farm market and has taken great care to preserve its past. Wilson is a town steeped in artistic history. The Wilson Theatre, now the Wilson Community Theatre, opened in 1919 as an opera house for the community. Duffy says that it is this history that makes Wine and Design Wilson an ideal fit in the community.
“As a town, Wilson continues to grow and attract visitors and residents,” says Duffy. “Given our town’s rich artistic and cultural roots, Wilson will serve as a wonderful setting for our new studio.”
Wine and Design first opened its doors in Raleigh in April 2010 as the dream of longtime friends and business partners Emmy Preiss and Harriet Mills. The wine/painting party concept was a first in the Triangle and has proven so popular, that Preiss and Mills recently opened a second location in Wilmington. Like the current franchise operations in Cary and Jamestown, the Wilson studio will offer a two-hour painting class at a cost starting at $35 per person.
Wine and Design provides the canvas, cover-up, paints, paintbrushes, and corkscrew and attendees provide a beverage of his or her choosing. First-time painters, aspiring artists, or self-proclaimed pro’s browse the studio’s website to find a painting they would like to replicate. Sessions are led by local artists that guide participants through a carefully-orchestrated, step-by-step process that promises a finished “masterpiece” at the end of the two-hour session. Hutcheson and Duffy are the aunt and cousin (respectively) to Raleigh co-founder Emmy Preiss.
Hutcheson is a retired school teacher of almost thirty years who started the first Montessori school in the area. Witten is a graduate of Peace College and has a degree in communications. She previously worked in event planning and for the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. Duffy said that it was her combined love for her cousin and for the arts that led her to open a Wine and Design franchise.
“Both Kathy and I are truly excited about this opportunity and look forward to serving our community and bringing something fun for people to do,” says Duffy.
Wine and Design Wilson is planning to mirror the format of its parent studio by offering date nights, hosting fundraisers, providing kid-friendly classes, and booking private parties. Duffy said that they will also be offering clients several “regional” paintings that celebrate the area including paintings of local tobacco barns, restaurants, and homes. The studio will be open Tuesday thru Saturday from 5:00PM to 8:00PM and will be holding its first class on August 2nd. For additional information, call (252) 291-0085.
About Wine and Design
Wine and Design (wineanddesignnc.com) provides “memories and a masterpiece” in just two hours. Painting sessions are led by a local artist who provides step-by-step instructions to first-time painters, aspiring artists, or self-proclaimed pro’s that result in an individualized work of art. Wine and Design accepts general reservations, but also books private parties. The company also hosts fundraisers, with a portion of the proceeds going directly to the cause. For more information, call (919) 374-0667.
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