Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development

Mermaid Winery Set to Open Virginia Beach Location March 15

March 12, 2018

Mermaid Winery, Virginia's first urban winery, will pop this Thursday, March 15, at 4 p.m. to celebrate the opening of its Virginia Beach location at 4401 Shore Drive. Following a ribbon cutting ceremony, the winery will offer tours of the new space and tastings as part of the festivities.

Mermaid Winery was founded in 2012 in the Ghent neighborhood of Norfolk. The Virginia Beach Development Authority approved in September 2017, an Economic Development Investment Program grant in the amount of $38,000 based on the company's capital investment in its Virginia Beach location of more than $1 million that includes real estate, machinery and furniture, fixtures and equipment. The grant will support Mermaid Winery's workforce development and employee training initiatives, planned site work and utility upgrades.

"The energy in the Chic's Beach area is amazing and has fueled the Mermaid Winery team with exceptional enthusiasm. We are excited to be part of the Shore Drive Community and produce Virginia Beach made wines," says owner Jennifer Eichert. Tickets will be available for purchase at www.mermaidwinery.com for the Grand Opening Celebration and are $25 per person. They include admission, a sparkling toast and light hors d'oeuvres all evening. A full cash bar will also be available.

Parking will be available on site and at the Bayside Christian Church, with a shuttle running during the event for guests. The Chic's Beach Crawl also will operate all evening.

"Mermaid Winery has achieved great success with its unique approach to crafting wines in this region, and we are looking forward to celebrating this milestone with them," said Virginia Beach Economic Development Director Warren D. Harris.

The new 8,084-square-foot location will allow Mermaid Winery to increase the company's wine manufacturing capabilities. Like the existing location, the Virginia Beach facility will include a wine bar where the winemaking process can be viewed, a restaurant with inside and outside dining areas and a tasting/event room.

The mission of the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development is to attract and retain national and international businesses to stimulate capital investment and create jobs. Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia with a population of 450,000, and it is the 37^th largest in the United States. The Department of Economic Development received re-accreditation through the International Economic Development Council in 2016 and is one of only 50 economic development organizations in the world to have this recognition. Most recently, Virginia Beach was named America's #1 best big city to live in by wallethub.com. For more information, visit www.yesvirginiabeach.com.

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