WineDive is Opening a New Location in Rittenhouse This Summer With Late Night Hours

Over the past several years, the wine scene in Philadelphia has evolved significantly, and Heather Annechiarico and Chris Fetfatzes have had a lot to do with that. Five-and-a-half years after opening their original WineDive location at 1506 South Street, the husband-and-wife restaurateurs behind such Philadelphia standouts Grace & Proper, Sonny’s Cocktail Joint, and Hawthornes, are bringing their WineDive concept to Rittenhouse, opening at 1534 Sansom Street with a target opening of mid-summer 2025.

The owners, who recently launched their new restaurant group Happy Monday Hospitality earlier this year, also own Quick Sip Delivery – the city’s only on-demand wine delivery service. They have other projects in the pipeline as well, most notably Liquorette – a high-end, technique-driven cocktail bar that’s inspired by luxury European cocktail bars, with plans on opening directly above WineDive Rittenhouse later this year.

Modeled after a divey old Hollywood hideaway, the new WineDive location (which was previously a nail salon) will feature 30 seats, including 14 at the bar and the rest at retro-inspired plush banquettes, with enough space inside to fit 40-50 guests. The room channels a late-1970s-meets-early-80s aesthetic, with amber glass block, stylish banquette seating, and dark paneling for a vibe that’s about tall pours and good times. The space was mostly designed by Fetfatzes and Annechiarico themselves, and includes curved and tufted banquettes, a ghosted mirror from Italy, and shadowy light moods with highlights of amber and an intention to set a dark mood.

WineDive Rittenhouse will operate with walk-ins only seven days a week from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., with plans to eventually open earlier on weekends, a perfect neighborhood hangout for after-work drinks, late-night bites, and casual meetups with friends.

Both the food and drink menus aim to blend highbrow with lowbrow, with affordable wine pours along with some choice picks from Susan Freeman, long-time sidekick and now partner in Wine Dive, as well as in other Happy Monday Hospitality ventures. Freeman has been with the company for 15 years.

The bar’s 20 by-the-glass wine list rotates six times a year, with something for every palate and budget. Think grower Champagne, alpine whites, juicy chillables, and skin-contact oranges. Alongside the wild and the funky, you’ll always find beautiful pours from old world legends such Burgundy, Barolo, Bordeaux, and beyond, and even the occasional boxed wine worth bragging about. A tight bottle list and an ice-cold selection of canned beers round out the drink options, alongside a cocktail list of playful riffs on familiar cocktails like a rusty nail reimagined or a yuzu bay breeze.

Many wines will come from women-owned wineries and vineyards featuring female winemakers, as WineDive is a woman-owned business with both Annechiarico and Freeman leading the way.

“We want to be a place where we can pass savings onto the consumer, where 20 bucks gets you a bite to eat and a fantastic drink,” said Freeman. “WineDive is about quality without the pretension, and value without compromise. Great wine and great vibes will be accessible to everyone, as we want to be fun and approachable. Whether you’re popping in for a quick glass or settling in for the night, we want everyone to feel welcome.”

As for the food, there will be a Shank’s and Evelyn’s-inspired roast beef sandwich, “antipast” from an old family recipe, chicken nuggets, brûléed pimento cheese dip with Cheez-Its, a “sexy grilled cheese” with burnt ends on Mighty Bread Co. bread, and more. Menu items will be priced between $7 and $15 apiece.

While WineDive South remains closed due to a 2022 fire, Fetfatzes says there are still aspirations of reopening. “We firmly believe in the WineDive brand, as we love our original South Street location, which Philadelphians have so much affinity for, and we’re certain that this is a brand that will grow to multiple locations. We plan to customize each WineDive location to fit squarely into its respective neighborhood. WineDive South was super funky, fresh, and cool, and we plan to fashion WineDive Rittenhouse to feel like ‘Old Hollywood meets Atlantic City.’ We cannot wait to begin popping corks on Sansom Street.”