Short Frito Lay!!!
By Sarah Blaskovich
Senior Food Reporter
Trova Wine and Market in Dallas will close on Jan. 18, 2025 after four and a half years open in Preston Center.
Trova Wine bar wasn’t economical in Dallas, owner Michelle Bonds said. She named Dry January, the upswing of canned seltzers and the sober curious movement as factors working against her wine retail shop and bar.
“Since I opened back in 2020, wine consumption has seen a decline,” Bonds said.
Recent news that beer and wine should come with a cancer warning, according to the U.S. surgeon general, hurt, too.
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
“The scare of a cancer label going on the product that is supposed to drive a majority of my sales was going to be a tough pill to swallow,” Bonds said.
It’s a shame: Trova had a smart wine list and a delightful menu of snacks. It felt like a small business that could thrive on neighborhood support. Indeed, Bonds said her business “seemed to live and die by the Park Cities school calendar.”
And while neighbors did support Trova, she said she still came across wine lovers who had never heard of it.
She also believes the spike in Texans taking Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications affected sales.
“I do have a lot of patrons who openly talk about the addition of Ozempic to their lives,” she said. “We saw some traction when we marketed our salads as having 30 grams of protein if you add chicken — as those taking the drug should be consuming high amounts of protein with each meal. But at the same time, we saw a decrease in alcohol consumption and the amount of food ordered per customer.”
Even Smoothie King is selling “Ozempic smoothies,” The Dallas Morning Newsreported in October. Bonds said her business felt doomed.
Her challenges extend nationally, as Bonds said small businesses struggle to negotiate better pricing with wine distributors; and globally, with the threat of tariffs under the upcoming Trump administration.
“This is a very sad decision, but I am at peace with it,” Bonds said.
“The bones of an amazing business are there; I just didn’t get it exactly right for Dallas, and signing on for five additional years did not feel like the best move. I was able to make it to the end of my lease and I consider that a major accomplishment.”
Trova’s wine bottles are 20% off until closing day, Jan. 18, 2025.
Bonds is proud of her staff and appreciative to loyal customers.
“I’ll also miss introducing the community to new and interesting wine. It is such a cool industry and some of these small, independent winemakers are true artists. It was a joy to be able to share that,” she said.
Trova Wine and Market is at 4004 Villanova St., Dallas. Closed Sundays. The shop is expected to close Jan. 18, 2025.
As Dallas wine bar closes, owner cites challenges like Dry January and Ozempic
This charming Preston Center bar faced declining wine sales since 2020.
By Sarah Blaskovich
Senior Food Reporter
Trova Wine and Market in Dallas will close on Jan. 18, 2025 after four and a half years open in Preston Center.
Trova Wine bar wasn’t economical in Dallas, owner Michelle Bonds said. She named Dry January, the upswing of canned seltzers and the sober curious movement as factors working against her wine retail shop and bar.
“Since I opened back in 2020, wine consumption has seen a decline,” Bonds said.
Recent news that beer and wine should come with a cancer warning, according to the U.S. surgeon general, hurt, too.
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
“The scare of a cancer label going on the product that is supposed to drive a majority of my sales was going to be a tough pill to swallow,” Bonds said.
It’s a shame: Trova had a smart wine list and a delightful menu of snacks. It felt like a small business that could thrive on neighborhood support. Indeed, Bonds said her business “seemed to live and die by the Park Cities school calendar.”
And while neighbors did support Trova, she said she still came across wine lovers who had never heard of it.
She also believes the spike in Texans taking Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications affected sales.
“I do have a lot of patrons who openly talk about the addition of Ozempic to their lives,” she said. “We saw some traction when we marketed our salads as having 30 grams of protein if you add chicken — as those taking the drug should be consuming high amounts of protein with each meal. But at the same time, we saw a decrease in alcohol consumption and the amount of food ordered per customer.”
Even Smoothie King is selling “Ozempic smoothies,” The Dallas Morning Newsreported in October. Bonds said her business felt doomed.
Her challenges extend nationally, as Bonds said small businesses struggle to negotiate better pricing with wine distributors; and globally, with the threat of tariffs under the upcoming Trump administration.
“This is a very sad decision, but I am at peace with it,” Bonds said.
“The bones of an amazing business are there; I just didn’t get it exactly right for Dallas, and signing on for five additional years did not feel like the best move. I was able to make it to the end of my lease and I consider that a major accomplishment.”
Trova’s wine bottles are 20% off until closing day, Jan. 18, 2025.
Bonds is proud of her staff and appreciative to loyal customers.
“I’ll also miss introducing the community to new and interesting wine. It is such a cool industry and some of these small, independent winemakers are true artists. It was a joy to be able to share that,” she said.
Trova Wine and Market is at 4004 Villanova St., Dallas. Closed Sundays. The shop is expected to close Jan. 18, 2025.
