Cork on Saginaw opened its doors earlier this afternoon, just in time for the after-work crowd.
Following several years of planning and hard work, Cork on Saginaw is ready for its grand opening in downtown Flint. "I've been in the business for 30 years, and to stand here today seems a little surreal to me," owner Marge Murphy said.
The wine bar and bistro brings new life to 635 South Saginaw Street, the old Dial Finance Company storefront, which sat vacant for more than 25 years. Following a complete overhaul, Murphy and her husband, Scott Martin, are promising an upscale but unpretentious atmosphere.
"We want this to be more like a neighborhood bar, but very, very nice," Martin said.
The menu can be described as a Mediterranean mix with dishes priced between $3 and $12.
"We have beef Bourguignon, homemade tomato soup, soups, salads, a spaghetti carbonara that's fantastic," said Murphy.
If that sounds a bit too exotic, Murphy says the restaurant offers some other options. "We've got Kraft mac and cheese. I keep peanut butter and jelly and my kids' favorite, Nutella, is always in the kitchen. We are very kid friendly."
Cork is opening with 65 varieties of wine, and that list will soon expand to at least 100.
"Good Michigan wines, to California, to Europe and so forth. There's something here for everybody," Martin said.
Here's something you won't find anywhere else around Mid-Michigan. It's called an enomatic wine serving system. You buy a card and put $25 on it. You pop it in and can buy a full glass or just a taste for a couple of dollars.
"Hey, the enomatics are cool. People love them. They're very addictive," Murphy said.
The owners hope customers will find Cork on Saginaw addictive, too.
With the new restaurant comes 12 new jobs to downtown flint.
