A new wine and cupcake lounge is on track to have a grand opening in February, led by Milwaukee entrepreneur Shakkiah Curtis.
Curtis owns a cycling studio, Spinn MKE, and leads The Pink Hustle, designed to support primarily Black and brown women entrepreneurs in tech-driven industries. Curtis was a consultant on the Black Business Hub in Madison, which opened at 2352 S. Park St. this past August.
Curtis worked with Urban League of Madison’s Ruben Anthony. She said she was “just making suggestions of what he should bring in the building. It became a challenge — ‘Why don’t you do it?’”
Tailer Nicole Wine and Cupcakes, a lofty space with gold and copper accents, plans to have seven wines on tap, more by the bottle, Cognac and non-alcoholic options alongside charcuterie boards and cupcakes baked by local entrepreneurs.
If all the permits fall into place, Curtis hopes to have “walking bartenders” who stroll the Black Business Hub during events.
“We’ve already partnered with a couple of Black sororities that are looking to book things,” Curtis said. “We partner with young professionals, so we already have a slate of calendar events.
“The goal is to continuously open that space for communities,” she added. “If you’re holding a networking event, we’re the ones you call.”
‘Think sweets and wine’
Tailer Nicole celebrates what Curtis loves starting with her daughter, who’s still in college. The lounge, which will seat up to 40 people inside the bar and 40 more when the doors are open, is named for her.
As the buildout ramps up, Curtis has been tasting sweet treats with the intention to choose the “top five” bakers to supply the cupcakes.
“Pink is my favorite color, so we will have a special pink cream-filled cupcake,” she said. “Pinot noir is my favorite (wine), so we’ll always have a variety of pinot noir. And then sparkling rosé, so there will be a sprinkled rosé as one of our special cupcakes.”
Using the shared kitchen at the Black Business Hub, Tailer Nicole plans to offer chocolate, charcuterie boards and tarts — “think sweets and wine,” Curtis said.
Initial hours are set to be noon to 8 p.m. during the week, opening until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and a mimosa brunch on Sundays from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Curtis is hiring a full team; she does not plan to be present day-to-day running the lounge.
“I’ve already put the word out that we are looking for individuals who love people, who enjoy wine and that culture, that vibe,” she said.
The Black Business Hub is an incubator for Black and minority-owned businesses. The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce is based out of the building, which has space for a cafe and restaurant as well as coworking areas. Curtis said a coffee shop is coming soon.
Tri-North Construction is working on the Tailer Nicole buildout, which Curtis hopes will take about six weeks. She’s planning private wine tastings and a soft opening in January, with a grand opening in early February to coincide with Black History Month.
The website (tailernicolewineandcupcakes.com) has been designed but won’t go live until all the permits are in place. Tailer Nicole’s alcohol license is on the Wednesday agenda for the city of Madison’s Alcohol License Review Committee.
“It’s literally making sure I’m crossing my t’s and dotting my i’s with the city,” Curtis said. “The goal is to be able to go throughout the (Black Business) Hub, especially when the summertime comes and we have the outside patio, the rooftop.”
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