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May 22, 2018

'Paint and Sip' opens in historic Essex bank building

Photo | Contributed Essex Paint and Sip, a wine, beer and paint bar, has opened in the Essex Village Post Office building.The business recently hosted a "paint your pet" event.
By Natalie Missakian

A space known by locals as “the old bank” inside the historic Essex Village Post Office building has been transformed into the town’s first wine, beer and paint bar.

Wethersfield resident Elaine Carpino opened Essex Paint and Sip with her business partner, Dave Durrenberger, earlier this month in the building at 12 Main St., which once served as town hall.

Carpino said the pair spent several months restoring the 1,500-square-foot space to its former glory, preserving original beams and some of the antique windows and installing period touches like tin ceilings, wide oak flooring and vintage lighting.

“We kept the old vault completely intact, which is our bar now. It just adds so much character to the building so we wanted to keep it just as it was,” she said. “We put some counters in there and a wine cooler and fridge and we’re good to go.”

Capitalizing on the “paint night” trend grown popular around the country, the business allows patrons to create their own acrylic paintings with step-by-step instructions from local artists.

The approximately two-hour-long sessions, offered Wednesday through Sunday, cost $25 to $45 and patrons can bring their masterpieces home. Food by local eatery Olive Oyl’s is available for purchase.

“The idea is to come in and have a glass of wine, have some food, hang out and have a fun painting experience,” Carpino said, adding beginners are welcome. “You can come by yourself, or you can bring the ladies and you’re out for the night.”

The paint bar also books parties, corporate events and fundraisers and offers a “coffee hour” session at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays for people who are home during the day, Carpino said.

A boating enthusiast, Carpino said she chose Essex for the business because she fell in love with the waterfront village and its shops and restaurants during previous visits with her family.

“Everything about Essex just screams New England,” she said. “When the building made itself available, it was a no brainer.”

She envisions the paint bar as a potential stop on an Essex day trip itinerary.

“One can easily plan a day or evening of art, dinner, shopping, paddling or strolling, without moving the car,” she said.

Natalie Missakian can be reached at news@newhavenbiz.com

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